Overview

• Thuringia has officially stopped distributing asylum seekers from ten designated 'safe countries of origin' to municipalities, keeping them in state reception centers until their cases are resolved.
• The policy is designed to reduce strain on local districts and cities, a key priority for the state government.
• Future plans include expanding the policy to other asylum seekers with low residency prospects and introducing payment cards for asylum seekers.
• The Left Party has criticized the measures as harmful to integration and legally questionable, citing concerns over prolonged isolation in state facilities.
• The government has also rejected calls for special intake programs for Syrian refugees' family members, emphasizing existing migration pathways.