The German state of Thuringia is set to implement new asylum policies aimed at tightening control over rejected asylum seekers.
Under the plan, individuals from specific “safe countries of origin” will be moved to central reception facilities in Suhl and Eisenberg, awaiting deportation. Previously, these individuals were dispersed across the state’s districts and cities.
The new measures primarily affect asylum seekers from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Ghana, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Senegal, and Serbia. The state’s Migration Ministry aims to prevent absconding during the deportation process and ease the burden on local governments. The policy is seen as a significant step towards the state’s broader migration goals, with potential future expansions of the program.
Critics, including the Thuringia Refugee Council and opposition parties, argue that the plan undermines individual asylum rights, noting that asylum should be granted based on personal merit rather than nationality. Some claim that similar approaches in other states have led to significant challenges.
In contrast, local governments have largely welcomed the decision, calling it a necessary move to alleviate local pressures. Thuringia is one of the few German states to proactively support deportations, with state Migration Minister Beate Meissner previously advocating for returns to countries like Afghanistan to maintain public safety.
However, the plan has exposed budgetary limitations, as Thuringia struggles with financing the new facilities and deportation efforts. The opposition Alternative for Germany (AfD) has called for a dedicated deportation hub and legal challenges to the current state budget.
