In the context of the increasingly restrictive refugee policies in Luxembourg, Lëtzebuerger Journal spoke to refugees who arrived in the country several years ago. Their stories reveal that even back then, the journey to freedom was often fraught with difficulties - challenges that remain highly relevant as the political climate continues to tighten.
Ahmed is an Iraqi refugee and arrived in Luxembourg a few years ago when he was in his mid-20s. Over the past years, he has settled in the Grand Duchy, forged close friendships and has dived into his passion for photography, film and theatre – but he also remembers how difficult it was in the beginning.
After just having arrived in the country, Ahmed presented himself twice at the wrong location before making it to the office of the General Department of Immigration (GDIM) to officially seek asylum in Luxembourg. As the Covid-19 pandemic was on-going, he had to quarantine for a few days. Ahmed remembers that the people at the quarantine shelter were friendly, but "once they took me to the authorities to get my fingerprints taken, people were not kind, … they were angry at me. I did not feel good there. Not safe, not comfortable."
How does seeking refuge work? First contact with authorities
If a person wants to seek refuge in Luxembourg, they have to go to the GDIM in person and officially apply for so-called International Protection. This means in practical terms that the person illegally arrived in the Grand Duchy on often-perilous ways either by airways, by sea, by ground or a combination of the aforementioned. The person then walks up to the reception of the GDIM, explains their situation, is then invited to a short interview, fills out a paper and eventually gets their fingerprints taken to officially apply for asylum in Luxembourg.
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