New Border Controls Ease Crowds at Brandenburg Reception Centers
The introduction of fixed border controls at Poland's frontier has led to a noticeable improvement in the situation at Brandenburg's first reception facilities. According to Olaf Jansen, the head of the Central Aliens Office, the influx of new arrivals has dropped drastically since the border controls were implemented in mid-October. Before this, around 80 to 100 individuals entered daily, but now the number is down to 20 to 30 newcomers per day. With approximately 4,400 places in initial reception centers, 3,800 are currently occupied, resulting in an occupancy rate of 82%.
Michael Stübgen, Interior Minister for the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), attributes this shift to the controls' immediate impact, making smuggling organizations more cautious. He mentioned that the controls significantly increase the risk for smugglers, but he also emphasized the necessity to improve control and reduce access in the European asylum system.
In response to the decrease in migrant influx, Stübgen highlighted the importance of accommodating refugees effectively. The expansion of the Wünsdorf center by an additional 500 places in containers will support this, as well as the planned increases in Eisenhüttenstadt and Frankfurt (Oder) by 500 places each in early 2023.
Cities, governing municipalities, have been recognized as significant players in managing the refugee influx. With the introduction of border controls, the number of migrants entering Brandenburg's municipalities has dwindled, allowing for better resource allocation and improvised management.
One notable enrichment related to this article is that Germany has extended its internal border controls until September 15, 2025, as a countermeasure for irregular migration and cross-border crime. The German Federal Police have reported significant results from their controlled efforts, including the detection of around 80,000 irregular entries, arrests of 1,900 people smugglers, and the denial of entry to approximately 47,000 individuals due to lack of documentation.
Moreover, the Berlin Senate is in discussions with the German Armed Forces to develop a new refugee accommodation on the site of the former Tegel Airport, which could house 2,000 to 3,000 refugees. The existing Tegel Refugee Centre, currently accommodating 6,500 people, is expected to decrease in size as part of integration efforts.
However, public opinions have shown pressure on proposed immigration policies that might have restricted family reunifications for some refugees and increased border refusals. In response to these plans, tens of thousands of people protested in Berlin and other German cities, voicing their concerns against proposed conservative and far-right ideologies.
In contrast, there still remain disagreements within the European Parliament about the efficiency and ethics of border controls. Critics argue that these controls are ineffective and may further drive people into the hands of extremists, while other parties uphold the importance of safeguarding national security and asylum principles.
In conclusion, the introduction of border controls has substantially changed the reception situaion for refugees in Brandenburg. While the topic continues to spark significant debates related to migration, security, and human rights, it is essential for all parties involved to work together for the better management of refugees.
