A new person convicted of terrorism is on their way to the Kærshovedgård Departure Center. Currently, there are eight individuals at the Kærshovedgård Departure Center who have been convicted of terrorism-related acts or incitement to terrorism. According to a parliamentary response from July 10th from the Ministry of Immigration and Integration, as reported by Berlingske, another person with a terrorism-related conviction is awaiting accommodation at the center.
For the local population and nearby shops, this situation is a cause for concern. Betina Kastbjerg, a member of parliament for the Denmark Democrats and a resident 20 kilometers from the center, stated: “It is a concern for the local population living close by, and it is a concern for the shops, which are plagued by these criminals.”
Kærshovedgård was established in 2016 as part of an agreement reached by the Venstre government along with the Social Democrats, Danish People’s Party, Conservative Party, and Liberal Alliance. The center accommodates both rejected asylum seekers, deported criminals, and individuals under tolerated stay, and has housed between 200 and 300 residents in recent years.
The Departure Center has been the subject of intense political debate, partly due to the crimes committed by the residents and their repeated violations of the reporting requirement, which requires them to report several times a day. In March, a group of single women were moved from Kærshovedgård to the Avnstrup Departure Center following reports of sexual harassment.
In April, the Danish Parliamentary Ombudsman concluded that the conditions at Kærshovedgård are so restrictive that they limit the residents’ way of life. The Ombudsman also pointed out a coarsening of behavior and stated that the security at the center should be improved. Kærshovedgård is located near Ikast in Midtjylland.