First Departures Possible – Federal Government Moves Only Under Pressure
After hundreds of Afghans with German admission commitments were arrested in Pakistan last week and more than 200 of them were deported to Afghanistan (cf. press release of 19.08.), it now appears that the first departures could take place – possibly as early as next week.
However, the fact that the Federal Government is taking action is solely due to massive pressure from the courts and lawyers. Only after positive rulings from the Berlin Administrative Court and the Higher Administrative Court Berlin-Brandenburg, and under threat of fines, were the affected individuals contacted. These are cases with fully completed admission procedures.
Delay Tactics Despite Acute Danger
Instead of proactively acting in the other ongoing cases, the Federal Government continues to buy time:
In ongoing proceedings, it exhausts all deadlines until the very last moment, knowingly putting people in danger.
This continues the pattern that has already been visible in recent weeks: Only a few days before the mass deportations, the Federal Government claimed in court that there was no danger for asylum seekers in Pakistan – despite expired deadlines set by the Pakistani authorities.
Standstill in Security Checks
Since the new government took office at the beginning of May, no security checks have been carried out at the German embassy in Islamabad.
This self-induced standstill shows that the Federal Government is not – as Mr. Dobrindt claims – interested in a thorough review of the cases. Only after more than 200 people were deported and over 400 arrested does the Federal Government send staff again. And even now, the procedures are expected to take several months – after people have already been waiting in Pakistan for one to two years.
Even basic measures to protect people are carried out only under pressure and must first be enforced through the courts.
Dangerous Double Standards
CSU politician Alexander Dobrindt once again emphasized today at the citizen dialogue that migration must be controlled. At the same time, his party is advocating for the abolition of the Federal Admission Program Afghanistan – the very program that ensures this control:
Individuals are screened by various authorities and, even before entering Germany, undergo a multi-stage security process in a third country.
Conclusion
The Federal Government acts not out of its own responsibility, but only under pressure from the courts.
Instead of ensuring timely safety for asylum seekers, it continues to endanger their lives through delay tactics.
