Bavarian Minister Rejects Bamberg's Push to Close Migration Center

Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann insists the Bamberg 'Anker-Zentrum' must remain open, citing logistical and financial challenges to alternative plans.

• Bavaria's Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann has stated that the Bamberg 'Anker-Zentrum' for refugees cannot close as scheduled at the end of 2025, despite prior agreements with the city.
• Herrmann criticized Bamberg's proposed plans for decentralized refugee housing, calling them impractical and financially burdensome, particularly given the city's current housing market challenges.
• The city of Bamberg had planned to repurpose the site of the 'Anker-Zentrum' for housing, social, and educational facilities but now faces uncertainty due to the state's stance.
• The 'Anker-Zentrum' currently houses over 1,400 refugees and serves as a hub for processing asylum applications, though its closure would shift the responsibility for refugee distribution and services back to the city under national allocation rules.
• Local debates over alternative housing solutions, including container-based accommodations, have revealed divisions among political parties, community organizations, and residents, with no consensus on the path forward.

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