Petition - 18-year-old Joel will not be deported from Hamburg
Supported by his classmates and over 100,000 people, the 18-year-old Joel from Ghana was able to prevent a deportation from Hamburg. The Asylum Affairs Commission granted his request, according to its chairman, SPD city councilor Ekkehard Wysocki, who spoke to the German Press Agency. "We demand that the senate issue a residence permit so that a residence title can be issued."
A spokesperson for the Foreigners Office said: "Following the decision, a residence permit will be issued very shortly." This is expected to happen in the coming days.
The case of the 18-year-old student at the Nelson-Mandela School in Wilhelmsburg had gained a lot of attention due to a petition organized by his teacher and classmates. Before the commission meeting, they presented Wysocki with a sign reading "1, 2, 3, 4 – Joel stays here!" at the town hall. By Thursday morning, the petition had already been signed by over 104,000 people on the internet.
The commission's decision was unanimous
The decision of the four-member commission, which also includes representatives of the Greens, CDU, and Left parties, was unanimous, according to Wysocki. The commission can only make a recommendation if all legal checks on a deportation order have been completed.
"The Foreigners Office can only decide based on the applicable residency law," said its spokesperson. "Independently of the very thorough expert-legal checks carried out by the Foreigners Office, the Asylum Affairs Commission made a decision here that particularly takes into account the urgent personal reasons of the applicant for a permanent stay in Germany."
Joel came to Hamburg four years ago – wants to take his Abitur
According to his own statements, Joel came to Hamburg four years ago as an unaccompanied minor from Ghana to live with his father and sister. Since he is now of age, he is to be deported, he told the dpa.
Joel learned the German language unusually quickly, according to his teacher Elif Basboga, who initiated the petition. She knows students who were born and raised in Germany and do not master the German language as well as he does after only four years. "Joel is very integrated, a diligent student and a soon-to-be Abiturient. There should be more people like him in Germany."
When she saw the letter from his lawyer with the deportation notice a month ago, it was clear to her and Joel's classmates that something had to be done, said the teacher. They distributed flyers throughout Hamburg and spoke to people about Joel's situation. The class also joined in. "The students see what it means to actively live democracy and not just watch and let others shape the lives of strangers."
Basboga was overwhelmed by the large number of supporters of the petition. "I initially hoped that maybe 1,000 signatures would come together, that would have been great. But over 100,000 signatures – that's a whole other dimension."
Deportation would have denied Joel his diploma and family separation
Not only would deportation have denied him his diploma, Joel said. In addition to losing many friends, it would have meant separation from his father and sister, as he would have had to return to Ghana without them. He was also deeply moved by the great support: "I can't express my feelings. I didn't expect this."
- The case of Joel, a foreigner from Ghana, who is an 18-year-old student at the Nelson-Mandela School in Wilhelmsburg, gained significant attention due to a petition signed by over 104,000 people, including his classmates.
- In Germany, deportation was prevented for Joel, who hails from Ghana, by the Asylum Affairs Commission and the support of his classmates and over 100,000 people, according to SPD city councilor Ekkehard Wysocki.
- Despite the decision by the four-member commission, which includes representatives from the SPD, Greens, CDU, and Left parties, the Foreigners Office in Germany can only make a decision based on the applicable residency law.
- The German Press Agency reported that Joel, a Ghanaian student in Hamburg, came to Germany four years ago as an unaccompanied minor and was facing deportation but was able to prevent it after gaining widespread support.
- With the unanimous decision of the Asylum Affairs Commission, Joel, a foreign student from Ghana living in Hamburg, was able to stay in Germany permanently, taking into account his urgent personal reasons and his rapid integration into German culture and education.
