New Center in Eisenhüttenstadt Facilitates Asylum Seeker Returns to Poland

A new facility in Eisenhüttenstadt has begun operations to expedite the return of asylum seekers to Poland, with two individuals already transferred since its inception in mid-March. The center, officially known as the Dublin Center, was established to accommodate up to 250 people and is designed to streamline the process for those without the right to remain in Germany.

The center focuses specifically on what are referred to as Dublin cases, which involve asylum seekers who must process their applications in the first EU country they entered. This often leads to situations where individuals travel to Germany and submit their asylum applications there, necessitating their return to the country of initial entry under certain conditions.

According to the Interior Ministry in Potsdam, the recent transfers involved persons who had been initially registered in Poland, where the Polish authorities agreed to accept them back. These returns took place in Swiecko, a border area near Frankfurt (Oder), which is also home to a joint German-Polish police station.

The establishment of this center was a collaborative effort between the former federal government and state officials. It marks the second such Dublin facility in Germany, following the one in Hamburg. The goal is to enhance efficiency in the deportation process, including the potential to return multiple individuals simultaneously.

However, the opening of the center has faced criticism from various advocacy groups. The Brandenburg Refugee Council has voiced strong opposition to the facility, arguing that it undermines the rights and dignity of asylum seekers.

Under the regulations governing the Dublin process, the country responsible for handling an asylum application is typically the one where the individual first entered the EU. This system can lead to challenges, particularly when refugees continue to travel to different EU nations before applying for asylum.

In terms of living conditions, the benefits provided to asylum seekers at the Dublin Center have been significantly reduced. They receive only basic necessities, described by officials as "bread, bed, and soap," with no additional funds allocated for personal expenses. Recent judicial decisions in Hamburg have raised questions about the legality of such limitations on benefits for individuals housed in Dublin centers.