Tighter EU asylum rules: Saxony feels prepared

Space for up to 400 people in northern Dresden

Up to 400 foreign nationals can be accommodated at the center in northern Dresden. The facility’s staff is responsible for monitoring entry and exit controls, it was stated. Residents would not be actively prevented from leaving the facility through coercive measures. However, violations of the order could result in a court-ordered detention or fines, according to the State Directorate. Such a center is neither a detention facility nor similar to one, emphasized the spokesperson for the State Directorate.

The background to this is the new EU rules on the Common European Asylum System (CEAS), which take effect on Friday (June 12). Among other things, the reform stipulates that asylum procedures are to be conducted at those EU external borders where asylum seekers first arrive. People with little prospect of protection are to be detained there and deported if their application is denied.

According to Schuster, deportation detention centers remain a bottleneck. If the CEAS functions as intended, there may not be enough space. The minister said that cooperation with other countries is already being sought to address this. Dresden has a deportation detention center.