Saxony-Anhalt concentrates asylum on Halberstadt and Stendal!

Saxony-Anhalt concentrates asylum on Halberstadt and Stendal!

Especially looking at the latest developments, five branches of the central point of contact for asylum seekers in Halberstadt were able to close last year, including locations in Bernburg, Blankenburg and Merseburg. The branch in Quedlinburg was also recently closed. The state reception center (LAE) in Stendal, on the other hand, was partially put into operation in May 2024 and is said to be fully operational with a total of 1,000 places by the end of the year. Saxony-Anhalt is currently heading around 2.69 % of the newly incoming asylum seekers, with the total capacity for the initial reception at around 2,500 places.

increased occupancy despite challenges

At the moment, the occupancy of the initial reception facilities is relatively high at around 85 percent, but the declining access figures mean that the distribution of those seeking protection is slowed down to the municipalities. According to the Ministerium Sachsen-Anhalt the admission facilities of the federal states are accommodated. This includes essential steps such as registration, medical examinations and the submission of asylum applications.

In the context of these procedures, it is ensured that every asylum seeker goes through the relevant steps. The Bamf has several branches around the initial reception facilities that enable the applications to be processed quickly. A special focus is on the health investigation, which is one of the first steps on arrival, and attention is paid to the safety of those seeking protection, for example by a trained security service.

Integration and return: a double process

However, the challenges do not end in the first admission. Many people have to leave the facilities after completing their asylum procedure. Rejected asylum seekers are obliged to leave, but can complain against the decision of the BAMF. The immigration office is responsible for the deportations that are carried out in cooperation with the federal police.

It is also worth noting that people in need of protection, including children and pregnant women, are looked after in special framework conditions and offers such as school preparation for children. An important element remains the legal support during the procedure that is offered to the asylum seeker in the state reception facilities.

Despite the challenges, the realignment in Saxony-Anhalt shows that a good approach is pursued to meet both the needs of the protection seekers and the administrative requirements. While Halberstadt and Stendal are the focus, it remains to be seen which further steps are undertaken to optimize the admission and integration processes in order to react to the best possible to react to the current developments.