Germany resumes deportations of Afghan migrants who have committed crimes

The German government announced on Friday that it has returned to expel Afghan criminals to their countrya measure that had not been applied since August 2021 and which affects “convicted criminals who had no right to remain in Germany and against whom expulsion orders had been issued.”

According to the German Interior Ministry, the total number of criminals is 28.

The announcement, made public by Steffen Hebestereit, spokesman for the government of the German socialist chancellor Olaf Scholzcomes just a week after the attack that left three dead in the city of Solingen (west) and after which the Executive has presented new measures to toughen immigration and security policy.

“This morning, Germany returned Afghan nationals to their country of origin for the first time since August 2021,” Hebestreit said in a statement in which Scholz’s government reiterated its “commitment” to carry out repatriations such as those announced on Friday.

“Germany’s interest in Security clearly prevails over the interest in protecting criminals and dangerous people,” said the statement from the spokesman of the German government, who the day before presented a package of measures with which Berlin intends to toughen immigration and security policies.

This package was the Scholz government’s reaction to the knife attack that left three dead last week in Solingen perpetrated by a Syrian citizen who should have been deported earlier and who swore allegiance to the jihadist group Islamic State (IS).

Hebestreit pointed out in his statement when referring to Afghan immigrants who are facing sentences and expulsion orders “In recent months, the Federal Government has made great efforts to resume returns in these cases and has supported the responsible federal states in this regard.”

“Germany has asked key regional partners for support in facilitating repatriation. The Federal Government is very grateful for this support,” the spokesman said in a statement.