The German federal government lacks its own data regarding the utilization of local authorities in accommodating asylum seekers, despite this being cited as a key justification for border controls. This revelation stems from a response by the Federal Interior Ministry to a formal query from the Green Party, as reported by the “Rheinische Post” newspaper.
The Green Party had requested information on the number of reception facilities operated by federal states and municipalities for which the government possesses current written data on occupancy rates and provision of care. They also inquired about the extent of overload reported in these facilities. The Ministry’s reply stated that “the Federal Government does not possess comprehensive data of its own regarding the individual reception facilities of the federal states and municipalities, in the terms of the inquiry.
Responsibility for accommodation, housing and care provision lies with the individual federal states. As of March 2025, 399,524 individuals have been registered in initial reception centers, a figure which includes Ukrainian refugees who do not technically fall under the definition of asylum seekers.
Irene Mihalic, parliamentary group secretary of the Green Party, sharply criticized Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, highlighting the apparent contradiction between justifying ongoing border controls and rejections based on alleged local difficulties, while simultaneously possessing no overview of the actual situation in municipalities.
Mihalic accused Dobrindt of effectively disregarding the concerns of local communities, suggesting that border controls were a form of populist symbolic politics lacking a factual basis. She further asserted that those who operate with a “post-factual” mindset are acting contrary to real-world demands.
