A former military base in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia, is set to host a new deportation center, according to a spokesperson for the responsible ministry of the “Rheinische Post”.
Currently, there is only one such facility in East Westphalia, in the city of Bielefeld, which accommodates 140 individuals subject to deportation, as reported. The construction of a new center is part of a package of measures adopted by the black-green state government in September 2024, shortly after the Solingen terrorist attack.
After examining multiple locations, the state has now chosen the former NATO base, the Joint Headquarters (JHQ), in Rheindahlen, western Mönchengladbach, as the site for the new center. The location already hosts a state-run reception center for asylum seekers. A key factor in the decision was the proximity to Düsseldorf Airport. Synergies resulting from the close location of the planned deportation center to the nearby reception center were also considered, according to the information.
The center for the accommodation of individuals subject to deportation, or UfA, will house and care for individuals to ensure their deportation.