site.btaInterior Ministry Closes Additional Accommodation for Illegal Aliens in Lyubimets

The additional accommodation for illegal aliens in Lyubimets will be closed down on October 26, the Ministry of Interior said here on Wednesday. The reason is the reduction in the number of people accommodated in the special homes of the Migration Directorate.

The decision was taken after an analysis of the trends in migration pressure, as well as a forecast of a continued reduction in the number of people placed in special homes for temporary accommodation of illegal aliens.

As of October 26, the Migration Directorate will continue to operate at its basic capacity of 1,060 accommodation places. Data so far show that since the beginning of October, there has been a decrease in the number of persons accommodated in the two temporary accommodation facilities for foreigners - in Lyubimets, South Central Bulgaria, and Sofia. Since October 1, the facilities' average daily occupancy is estimated at 143% of the basic capacity of 1,060 places.

The Migration Directorate with the Ministry of Interior is the body responsible for managing these special homes where illegally staying persons are accommodated for the purpose of identification and securing the implementation of return or expulsion measures. The basic accommodation capacity of the two homes is 1,060 places - 400 in Sofia and 660 in Lyubimets.

In the first half of 2023, the occupancy of the basic accommodation capacity in the two homes ranged from 31% to 60% on a daily basis. In July 2023, the number of foreigners placed in the homes increased sharply, and the core capacity of 1,060 places was exceeded by 16%. The occupancy rate reached 116% on a daily basis. In August, the core capacity was filled to an average of 215% and to 212% the following month.