Detained Foreigners Center in Rauda Expected to Be Completed by September

The State Agency for Support (NVA) has announced that the temporary accommodation center for detained foreigners “Rauda” in Augšdaugava municipality will be completed by September. Currently, demolition work is underway, and rooms are being prepared for foreigners and the State Border Guard. Necessary equipment is also being purchased.

The center is being built in the former Rauda school building, located about 40 kilometers from Daugavpils. After construction is finished and the facility is put into operation, it will be handed over to the State Border Guard. “Rauda” will be a partially closed center where foreigners will stay while security, identity, and health checks and border procedures are carried out. Leaving the center without permission will not be allowed.

The center can accommodate up to 106 people at a time. It will include well-equipped living rooms with sanitary facilities, as well as a kitchen, recreation room, and sports hall. The fenced area will have a sports field, children's playground, and rest zones. The center will feature smart video surveillance and alarm systems.

The State Border Guard will establish a new unit with 36 employees at the center, creating jobs in the region. The project is implemented by NVA, the State Border Guard, and the Information Center of the Ministry of the Interior, using EU funding. Total project costs amount to €4,357,463, with 75% (€3,268,097) covered by the European Union and 25% (€1,089,366) co-financed by the Latvian state budget. The project is part of the implementation of the EU Migration and Asylum Pact.