N-VA Jabbeke not set up with the arrival of a closed return center

The return center is moving to Jabbeke because the current buildings in Bruges are too outdated. “It is unimaginable that this decision was taken without any involvement from the mayor,” N-VA Jabbeke said.

“No respect”

At the beginning of this week it was announced that there are plans to move the closed return center De Refuge in Bruges to Jabbeke. About 126 undocumented migrants reside in the Refuge before being deported from the country. Now the center would move to Jabbeke, at the offices of the federal road police.

“Transparency and consultation in these kinds of decisions is of great importance so that there can be trust between the city council, the management of the center and the Immigration Office. This shows in the least respect by the competent State Secretary Mahdi (CD&V) for the local level and the mayor who is nevertheless of the same party,” says Tijl Waelput, chairman of the local N-VA department.

It is not yet entirely clear when the center would move to Jabbeke.