Baden-Württemberg: After Corona, the number of deportations increases again

Flights were often prohibited, as was entry into other countries - because of Corona, fewer people could be deported from Baden-Württemberg in the past two years.

Baden-Württemberg: After Corona, the number of deportations increases again

Flights were often prohibited, as was entry into other countries - because of Corona, fewer people could be deported from Baden-Württemberg in the past two years. That is about to change again.

Pforzheim (dpa/lsw) - Since March 2020, the detention center in Pforzheim had not been used to capacity and was even empty at times due to corona-related travel restrictions. According to the Ministry of Justice, the facility is now filling up again and the number of deportations is also increasing. According to a spokeswoman, 21 detainees awaiting deportation, mostly from Gambia, Tunisia and Algeria, are currently being held there (as of November 30). In total, the facility offers space for 51 people.

The building has been under construction for some time and should then have 79 places. Travel and flight restrictions had led to deportation detainees having to be released during the long Corona months. They may only be detained for a certain period of time and must be released immediately if they cannot be deported first.

Overall, the corona pandemic had led to a sharp decline in deportations: In 2019, 2,648 people were returned from Baden-Württemberg to their home countries or to the EU country in which they first entered the EU. In 2020 and 2021, on the other hand, with 1362 and 1328 people respectively, only about half of those seeking protection were deported. In the current year, 1,547 people had to return by the end of November.

The Refugee Council complained that the country had not yet kept the promise made in its coalition agreement of a round table on the subject of detention pending deportation. In addition, the Pforzheim deportation facility, a former youth prison, is still far too reminiscent of a prison. He again referred to a ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) according to which migrants should not be housed like prisoners.

The inmates in Pforzheim are also restricted in their religious freedom and access to pastoral care and the visiting hours are regulated too strictly.