Austria prepares to detain minors "as if they were in prison"
In the wake of the decision to halt family reunifications, Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (from the ÖVP party) is seeking to accelerate the pace of asylum policy through further tightening and new measures. While the three-party coalition government is working intensively even during the Easter holiday, the government is set to adopt a package to support German language learning during a cabinet meeting on Wednesday through a periodic decision.
Karner presented police crime statistics on Monday that showed a troubling rise in crimes among minors, especially in the age group of 10 to 14 years, where the number of reports nearly doubled from 6,300 in 2020 to 12,000 cases in 2024.
To face this challenge, the ÖVP, SPÖ, and NEOS parties plan to create collective housing centers styled like prisons, where children "who exhibit clear criminal behavior" will be detained. To implement this plan, Karner intends to amend the residence law in care centers.
The Minister of Interior pointed to an increase in crime rates among Syrian refugees, confirming that deportation operations are progressing, although they are currently taking place to third countries and not to countries of origin. He explained that some Syrians and Afghans are currently being deported to third countries, and there are indeed communications with officials in Afghanistan, and plans are underway to hold talks with the transitional government in Syria with the aim of implementing forced deportations.
Karner criticized the German government's plans to welcome former collaborators from Afghanistan, considering it the "wrong direction." He said: "The right direction is towards Afghanistan and Syria, not the other way around."
The minister also announced additional tightening measures in asylum laws, confirming that the new European agreement on migration and asylum will allow for a reduction in social assistance for individuals who do not have the right to remain in Austria. He concluded by saying: "Asylum laws must be strict and fair at the same time."