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Offenbach in focus: Migrants enrich the cityscape!
Offenbach discusses the influence of migrants on the cityscape; high quota of foreigners and integration as key issues.
Offenbach in focus: Migrants enrich the cityscape!
In Germany there is a lively debate about the cityscape, a topic that has gained momentum following the statements of Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU). Merz expressed concerns that the high number of migrants could have an impact on employment and social interaction in cities. This debate is particularly present in cities like Offenbach, where the proportion of foreigners is 39.8%, which makes the Hessian city the leader among state cities. According to MIGAZIN, 66.5% of Offenbach residents have a migration background.
City councilor Abdelkader Rafoud from the SPD sees Merz's statements as a challenge because he is convinced that migrants enrich the cityscape. In a personal conversation with his daughters about Merz's famous statements, he could not see any surprising connections between the cityscape and foreigners. Rafoud is keen to tell a positive integration story and calls Offenbach an “integration machine”.
Crime and security in Offenbach
Despite the high proportion of migrants, police statistics in Offenbach show a decline in crimes. This tendency means that the city is considered one of the safest large cities in Hesse. The reasons for this are increased city police personnel, consistent prevention work and modern video surveillance. The Tagesschau emphasizes that there is no significant connection between the increase in the proportion of foreigners and the crime rate. Integration and social support are essential factors that contribute to the security of society.
Nevertheless, the housing shortage in Offenbach remains a major problem. This causes dissatisfaction among the residents and increases tensions within society. Rafoud, who has experienced the various phases of migration since 1972, urgently wants controlled access to housing for newcomers and shows understanding for Merz's critical statements relating to illegal migration. At the same time, he shows empathy for the challenges that affect the cityscape, such as accumulations of garbage, as Deutschlandkurier highlights.
The district chairman of the Offenbach CDU, Andreas Bruszynski, described Merz’s words as “unfortunate”. He emphasizes the need for sensitivity among the population and advocates a differentiated view of the situation. In recent years, cities like Offenbach have not only struggled with integration, but also with social hotspots, and the discussion about the cityscape will certainly continue to shape the next few months.
A look at the statistics
When talking about the proportion of migrants in German cities, it is worth taking a look at the numbers. Offenbach has the highest proportion of foreigners among independent cities in the Frankfurt/RheinMain metropolitan region. The following table provides an overview of migration in major German cities:
| City | Mutliper proportion of refugees | Crime rate (crimes per 100,000 inhabitants) |
|---|---|---|
| Offenbach | 39.8% | No current data |
| Duisburg | 46.9% | 9,000 |
| Bremen | 45.1% | 15,400 |
| Frankfurt am Main | 42.7% | 14,600 |
| Berlin | 41.7% | 539,049 (2024) |
Although cities with higher proportions of migrants are often considered social hotspots, current research shows no significant connection between migration and increasing crime. In Offenbach, the position of the city and its citizens remains challenging, but the progress in integration cannot be overlooked. The debate about the cityscape makes it clear how important it is to approach each other in these times and find solutions that promote cooperation.