Refugees are looking for protection: Church asylum against Dublin Center in danger!

Refugees are looking for protection: Church asylum against Dublin Center in danger!

Eisenhüttenstadt, Deutschland - In the past few weeks, the situation for refugees from the "Dublin Center" in Eisenhüttenstadt has worsened dramatically. More and more asylum seekers are looking for refuge in church asylum in Berlin and Brandenburg for fear of deportation. As reports yahoo, there are currently at least nine refugees in the church asylum, including many who feel threatened by the circumstances in Poland.

Those affected sharply criticize the living conditions in the "Dublin Center". In an open letter, you describe the situation as intolerable and emphasize that the order not to be allowed to leave the facility between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. severely limits its freedom. There is also no financial support - a pocket money that would allow you to pay for lawyers or necessary clothing. According to the Ministry of the Interior, however, it is not a general ban, but a regulation for pedestrian, compulsory residents during the week.

demands for better protection

The refugees demand the closure of the "Dublin Center" because they experience the conditions in Poland as inhuman. In Poland, access to fair asylum procedure is severely restricted; Many migrants are arbitrarily imprisoned there and have no way of adequately finding out about their situation. The human rights organization Pro asylum expresses similar concerns in Evangelisch.de and describes the living conditions in Poland as precarious. Refugees report barbed wire fences and the constant fear of deportation, which significantly affects not only their quality of life, but also their mental health.

Nationwide, the numbers of church asylum cases have increased: The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) recorded a total of 2386 church asylum cases in 2022, while in 2023 it was already 2065. So far, over 210 cases with impending deportations to Poland have become known in relation to the “Dublin” procedure. The asylum seekers are not only looking for a better life, but also escape the war and extreme violence in their home countries.

political effects and reactions

Brandenburg's interior minister René Wilke expresses that the future of the "Dublin Center" is currently uncertain and depends heavily on the procedure at the border. He plans to review the need for this facility, especially against the background of the recent rush decision by the Berlin Administrative Court, which has classified certain rejections as illegal. There is a clear consensus in the scene of the refugee organizations: The current migration policy of the federal government needs a fundamental realignment.

The positive developments in church asylum practice cannot be overlooked. As noted in [Kirchenasyl.de] (https://kirchenasyl.de/taetigheitungen/taetigkeit- 2022/), a total of 1119 church asylum were documented in 2022, 778 of which ended with a positive outcome. This shows that despite the numerous hurdles that need to be overcome, the churches play an important role in the protection of refugees. In the past few weeks, the churches have intensified their work - they are in constant dialogue with those affected and are committed to better conditions and fair treatment of asylum seekers.

The situation is also a call to society: How can we stand out together for human use of refugees? Because despite all political discussions, one thing remains clear: the refugees are not statistics, but people with stories and hopes for a safe life.