A new asylum center for minors opens in Geneva to positive feedback

The Hospice général opened a modern center for unaccompanied minor asylum seekers in the Aïre-Le Lignon neighborhood of Vernier, a municipality in the canton of Geneva.

The facility provides housing for young migrants and offers views of the Rhône river. Authorities describe the initial integration of the center into the local community as successful. The project faced heavy opposition from local residents and an interest association starting in 2017.

Opponents took the case to the Federal Tribunal, fearing a rise in insecurity similar to a nearby former shelter where an 18-year-old Afghan man died. The Swiss Federal Supreme Court rejected those appeals in 2022, ruling that the project served a significant public interest. Officials now report that the facility is operating well and that initial fears are fading. Serge Rinsoz, who manages the unit for unaccompanied minors, says some neighbors even plan to volunteer at the site.

Thierry Apothéloz, the minister for Social Cohesion, described the new housing as secure and human-sized.