The state of North Rhine-Westphalia is continuing with plans to build a second deportation prison on a former military site Monchengladbach strickly. According to the responsible construction and real estate company (BLB), we are now one step ahead: the necessary feasibility studies for the new building have been completed.
According to previous information from the state government, space will be created at the new detention center in Mönchengladbach, located not far from Düsseldorf Airport, to accommodate up to 140 people who must leave the country. After reviewing several locations, the country decided on a former NATO base, Joint Headquarters (JHQ).
The Bundeswehr initially wanted to stop civilian use
However, a few days ago, the Federal Ministry of Defense compiled a list of hundreds of military properties that must be kept for civilian use. JHQ also appears there. However, the federal government is reportedly planning to share the large sites.
A spokesperson for North Rhine-Westphalia’s Refugee Ministry said that plans were continuing at the former NATO base – “also with a view to carrying out the ongoing audit of federal government-owned properties by the Federal Ministry of Defense in connection with national defense interests, which also affects the site in Mönchengladbach.”
The SPD sees the deportation prison as being on the verge of collapse
The SPD opposition accused the black-green state government of not implementing the plan consistently enough. However, the project, which cost around 200 million euros, covers about half the cost of the security package decided upon after the terrorist attack in Solingen, said deputy head of the SPD parliamentary group Lisa Kapteinat.
He pointed out that the city of Mönchengladbach had provided information on its website at the end of October about an unclear situation regarding plans for the former military site. The Minister for Refugees in charge, Josefine Paul (Green Party), had “no idea” to state to the state parliament that there were clear problems with the planning for the development of the property.
The opposition faction now presented a quarter-hour catalog of 17 questions asked by the SPD at the state parliament’s integration committee on Wednesday. The SPD wanted to know from Paul, among other things, how long the state government had been in contact with the Bundeswehr regarding the property in Mönchengladbach and what the timetable for the construction and commissioning of the new deportation detention center was, given the importance of the Bundeswehr’s use. At the same time, we have been hearing about the huge pressure on the existing deportation detention center in Büren, Westphalia, for months, Kapteinat said.
Plans have now been finalized
A BLB spokesperson told dpa that the responsible escape ministry, the Düsseldorf district government and BLB NRW recently coordinated and established so-called user needs as a basis for planning. This includes, for example, the number and quality of containment space and the total area required.
According to Kapteinat, the SPD has also asked the SPD-led Federal Ministry of Defense about this. Therefore, the Bundeswehr wants to allow joint use wherever possible. However, it is also clearly stated that it will take some time before this becomes clear.
The Büren deportation prison was not fully occupied
So far there is only one deportation detention center in North Rhine-Westphalia, namely the accommodation facility for those required to leave the country (UfA) in Büren, East Westphalia, in the Paderborn district. People who are required to leave the country are detained there to ensure deportation. There are currently 175 places at UfA.
However, according to Kapteinat, the prison in Büren is having to turn away more and more people who have to leave the country – not because it is full, but because the staff is too small. Therefore, efforts are being made to recruit retired police officers for Büren. However, it may be difficult to find former police or correctional officers who want to work in a less centrally located deportation prison after retirement.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:251111-930-275732/2
