Germany, faster deportations for those without a residence permit

2023-10-25 13:37:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Germany, faster deportations for those without a residence permit

45 rejected Afghan asylum seekers get off the plane to return to their homeland

Despite criticism from the ranks of the Green party, a partner of the governing coalition in Germany, on Wednesday (25.10.) the government cabinet approved new toughened regulations for the deportation of persons without a residence permit who must leave Germany. German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said that "this package of restrictive measures" is necessary to "significantly limit" illegal migration to Germany. Faster and more deportations of rejected asylum seekers serve to create "sufficient capacity" for people who need genuine protection in Germany. The humanitarian association "Pro Asyl" criticized the decision of the German government for "controversial tightening of measures from the legal side".

Since February, the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, had spoken about consequent deportations, when he said in the Bundestag that "whoever does not have the right to stay here, he must leave Germany." But it is easier said than done. Recently, about 280,000 people lived in Germany who do not have a residence permit and must leave Germany. But in four out of five cases the deportation is suspended. Most of these people have the Duldung type of permit, for example because of the security situation in their country, because they are sick or they lack documents. On the other hand, many evictions cannot be carried out, because the people who need to be deported hide.

"This will help"

In the summer, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser presented the first ideas on how to make deportations more effective. Two weeks ago, the social democratic politician presented the draft bill that was approved on Wednesday. It foresees a number of measures: More powers for the police and more time for the authorities to prepare the evictions. So those who have to be deported from Germany can be kept longer in the so-called "Abschiebehaft" - imprisonment for a certain time, which does not mean punishment of the person, but preparation for deportation - to 28 days instead of 10 days as before. "On the one hand we've extended the ban on deportation grounds, that's certainly a point," Faeser said. On the other hand, smugglers will be deported faster.

German Interior Minister, Nancy Faeser

In addition, the police get the right to search for people who are forced to leave Germany in common shelters and in the rooms of co-residents. And finally, the evictions of people with forced departure will no longer be announced, except for families with children under 12 years old. Minister Faeser hopes to achieve in this way the reduction of illegal migration. "That will help," Faeser said.

The divided coalition

Within the parties of the governing coalition in Germany, the envisaged measures have not always found support. Criticism has come from some parts of the Social Democratic Party, the SPD and the Greens, such as the politician Filiz Polat. "In our view these are massive intrusions into fundamental rights. The right to eviction needs to be toughened - in my view this is disproportionate and too harsh."

Approving tones are heard from the side of the small partner of the coalition, the Free Democrats Party, FDP. For the executive leader of the liberal parliamentary group, Stephan Thomae, it is clear. "The state must also create the conditions for its decisions to be implemented."

Plane that takes deportees

Olaf Scholz asked for the support of the opposition

After the government's decision, the bill goes to the Bundestag. Perhaps also due to deviants within the ranks of the coalition, the chancellor sought the support of the opposition by writing to the head of the Christian Democratic Party, CDU, Friedrich Merz to support this draft law. The opposition has given restrained signals of approval. "This is a small step in the right direction," said the executive leader of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the Bundestag, Thorsten Frei.

German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz

AfD sees confirmation of its policy, the Left criticizes

AfD leader Alice Weidel called the interior minister's plans a copy of her party's demands. "From a clear panic, of course, the demands of the AfD are now taken." Whereas the Left criticizes the adoption of right-wing narratives in refugee politics. The spokeswoman for migration policy in the Left party, Clara Bünger, sees in this bill a violation of proportionality and the protection of human dignity, especially in "unannounced deportations after a long stay."

Because many countries refuse to accept deportees and readmission agreements take a long time, it is not yet known what effect the toughened measures will have./ DW