Migrants in Eisenhüttenstadt Declare: "Poland Is Dangerous"
Uncensored to the Core: Refugees' Struggles at Germany's Dublin Center
In the heated debate surrounding the illegal "rejections" at the German-Polish border, refugees from the notorious Dublin Center in Eisenhüttenstadt are raising their voices. This center, established for asylum seekers registered in another EU country before entering Germany or entering via a supposedly safe EU country, is supposed to oversee their deportation.
One refugee gives a chilling account, "If we are deported to Poland, the risk of ending up in prison again is very high. This is what the Polish border police told us," echoed by fellow refugees in a statement, published by the Brandenburg Refugee Council. They speak of horrifying experiences in Poland: "Many of us had to live in refugee prisons, surrounded by four to five fences (with electric and barbed wire fences)." These conditions, they claim, have caused a high risk of suicide and depression. Hence, they demand the abolition of the deportation center: "Poland is not safe."
The Dublin Center itself is far from a sanctuary. According to the refugees, a plastic card with a 'D' on it, denoting their status as inhabitants of the Dublin Center, marks them as future deportees to Poland. They describe being treated differently than others and share their dismay at being searched daily by social workers and security personnel, without the freedom to lock their doors or drawers.
Refugees also allege that they receive no financial support, neither in the form of pocket money. Some have been surviving here for three months without any financial aid, a crucial obstacle in procuring legal aid, clothing, and essentials. In mid-May, according to RBB's reports, the head of the Central Foreigners' Authority in Eisenhüttenstadt, Olaf Jansen, admitted that the refugees were indeed receiving pocket money. However, Brandenburg's former Minister of the Interior Katrin Lange (SPD), stated earlier that there would be no benefits under the Asylum Seekers' Act, just "bed, bread, and soap."
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Bonus Insights:
- The Dublin Center in Eisenhüttenstadt was opened in March 2025 to facilitate the return of rejected asylum seekers, indicating an increased focus on deportation processes.
- Legal disputes have emerged regarding the rejection of asylum seekers at borders, with courts ruling that such rejections must follow legal procedures to determine which EU member state is responsible for processing asylum applications.
- Deportation concerns are common among refugees in such centers, as they face uncertainty and stress due to potential deportations, often aggravated by legal ambiguities and procedural delays.
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- "Andreas Fritsche's Borderline border control piece may find relevance in addressing policies and legislation regarding the Dublin Center, shedding light on the protection and control aspects."
- "Politics and general news, including the Dublin Center's policies and legislation, are subjects that need to be covered extensively, especially considering the reports of unbearable conditions and lack of support faced by refugees in the center, questioning the safety and humanitarian treatment they receive."
