Illegal Migrants in Saxony-Anhalt Thwart Deportation Attempts

Deportation Attempts in Saxony-Anhalt

Last year, the majority of illegal migrants in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt who were identified for deportation either disappeared or used legal means to prevent their expulsion. The state's interior minister disclosed that only a small portion of the planned deportations were successfully carried out.

Deportation Statistics

CDU Interior Minister Tamara Zieschang, in response to a query from a left-wing legislator, stated that only 535 out of the 1,848 planned repatriations of illegal migrants to their home countries were successfully completed in 2023. This represents just under 29 percent of all cases. She explained that in 565 instances, the person scheduled for deportation had vanished and could not be found. In 354 cases, legal efforts were made to obstruct the deportation process or there were administrative failures in providing the necessary documentation.

Reasons for Unsuccessful Deportations

Further, 205 illegal migrants were denied by their home countries, and in 46 cases, the individual avoided deportation through "church asylum", a practice in Germany where potential refugees can seek temporary protection through their local parish if they are believed to be at risk of persecution in their home country. This allows for a re-evaluation of their protection status by the state. In addition, 37 cases were disrupted due to illness and individuals not being medically fit to be deported, 17 cases were thwarted by urgent applications to German courts, and 9 cases were adjourned due to ongoing criminal proceedings.

Political Reactions

The ruling center-right CDU in Saxony-Anhalt blamed the federal government, which is composed of a left-liberal coalition, for the low success rate. They criticized recent bilateral agreements with third countries as ineffective. At the national level, leading CDU politicians have voiced their support for off-shore processing of asylum applications to reduce Germany's appeal as a migrant hotspot. This would be similar to policies implemented by the U.K. Conservative government and fellow EU member states Denmark and Italy.

Asylum Applications and Welfare Benefits

Data from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) published earlier this year showed a 51.1 percent increase in asylum applications to 350,000 last year compared to 2022 when 217,774 applications were made. Meanwhile, figures published this week by the Federal Employment Agency revealed a significant increase in welfare benefits across Germany, with more than two-thirds of beneficiaries being either first or second-generation migrants.

Conclusion

The issue of illegal migration and deportation is a complex and contentious one. The situation in Saxony-Anhalt is a microcosm of the larger challenges faced by Germany and other European nations. It raises questions about the effectiveness of current policies and the need for reform. What are your thoughts on this matter? Do you think the current system is working, or does it need to be overhauled? Share your views with your friends and join the conversation. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is delivered every day at 6pm.