Police operations in Meißen: Concerns about unaccompanied refugees are growing!

Police operations in Meißen: Concerns about unaccompanied refugees are growing!

In Meißen-Bohnitzsch, the Diakonie's plans to repurpose an outbuilding of the “Hugo Tzschucke” nursing home are making the headlines. In the future, eight unaccompanied minor foreigners (UMA) will be accommodated here. Opinions among the population are divided - while Diakonie supports the initiative, residents and relatives of those in need of care express concerns. The fear of a possible increase in crime hangs over this project.

Thomas Kirste, a member of the AfD state parliament, warned in a letter to the Diakonie board and highlighted the risks of the planned project. He calls for decentralized accommodation options for the UMA to avoid possible difficulties for the local community. CDU politicians, especially Sebastian Fischer, support centralized accommodation, which further fuels tensions in the discussion.

Police operations and security concerns

A look at the statistics reveals that between December 2, 2023 and January 18, 2025, the police had to be called out in at least 51 cases because of problems in the neighboring building of the nursing home. These operations involved matters such as property damage, threats, theft, and even bodily harm. Unaccompanied minors have run away from the accommodation on several occasions, which poses an additional challenge for the police.

The financial aspects of accommodation must also be considered. According to a previous inquiry, the cost of caring for an unaccompanied foreign minor is a whopping 5,300 euros per month. However, the Saxon state government remains silent when it comes to the specific expenditure for police operations.

Support and integration

The Diakonie emphasizes that it works closely with the district and state youth welfare offices. In order to offer young people in need the best possible support, various events are already being organized with employees, residents and residents. The focus is on language learning, with small teaching units planned in the mornings and afternoons.

According to the provisions of the asylum procedure, children and young people under the age of 18 are considered minors. Unaccompanied minors who enter the EU without a responsible adult are taken into care and placed in appropriate facilities or with foster families. During this time, an initial screening will be carried out to check your health and age. A guardianship is established to represent the interests of minor refugees until they come of age. However, without legal representation, they are unable to apply for asylum.

The dispute surrounding the planned accommodation in Meißen-Bohnitzsch reflects how complex the challenges are in the integration of unaccompanied minor refugees. Both the fears of local residents and the need for support for these young people must be taken into account in a constructive dialogue. Ultimately, it is about finding solutions that serve the safety of residents while at the same time meeting the protection needs of minors.