Lier ventemottak was established in March 2006 with a double purpose: to provide rejected asylum seekers with food and shelter, and to actively motivate them to return to their home country. This is to be achieved through poor living conditions, passivity, near-isolation, and sustained mental pressure, according to our informants sometimes bordering on harassment.

Two years later, many of them are still there, living under conditions that make Lier one of the most problematic institutions in contemporary Norway.

It is Borderland's view that Lier ventemottak either has to be drastically reformed, or shut down. In our view, it is unacceptable to break people down for the purpose of forcing them out. Facilitating return - in cases where return is safe - should never be seen as contrary to showing respect to people in a vulnerable situation.

Borderland Publications

Policy Note about Lier ventemottak
November 2008

Fact Book about Lier ventemottak
April 2009

Comments from Inhabitants of Lier ventemottak

Letters from inhabitants of Lier ventemottak
Regularly updated

Speech about Lier ventemottak, by an inhabitant
Presented at Borderland's hearing about Lier, 18 November 2008

Article: Livet på innsiden av Lier ventemottak
Dagbladet, 20 June 2009

Article: Fra Lier ventemottak
Dagsavisen, 26 September 2008

Article: Samfunnet "Lier ventemottak"
Unpublished

Media

– Uverdige forhold på ventemottak and Mener de har seg selv å takke
NRK, 3 July 2009

Før deportasjonen
Comment from Trude Ringheim in Dagbladet, 23 November 2008

Uverdige forhold for ureturnerbare funksjonshemmede
Handikapnytt, 7 October 2008

Trenger en evaluering
Liernett, 25 April 2008

NOAS reagerer sterkt
Liernett, 15 March 2008