- Deported individuals receive 1,000 euros in monetary compensation upon departure.
At 6:56 AM on a Friday, a plane took off from Leipzig, headed for Kabul. On this first deportation flight since the Taliban takeover, there were 28 Afghan criminals being expelled. This was reported by "Der Spiegel," citing security sources. According to the report, each deportee was given 1,000 euros as a "parting gift" before boarding the plane. The German government had reportedly been planning this action for months.
In Germany, these individuals had committed serious crimes, some of whom had served prison sentences. The question arises as to why these individuals received money from the government, especially since they were leaving the country anyway.
Federal Government Funding for Deportations
The financial aid is suspected to be part of a program run by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) called "REAG/GARP". The acronyms stand for "Reintegration and Emigration Programme for Asylum-Seekers in Germany" and "Government Assisted Repatriation Programme". Both funding programs aim to organize and support departures.
The program primarily supports individuals who are in Germany and wish to return to their home country. It covers costs such as the journey to the airport. According to "t-online", a one-time payment of 1,000 euros per person, or a maximum of 4,000 euros per family, is available. This is known as "parting gift" - a financial foundation to prevent them from arriving in their home country without any money.
Strong Criticism from CDU Politicians
"I find this a very questionable signal," says CDU politician Lena Düpont on the "Welt" channel. "We're undermining the law and order here." While it's reasonable to financially support a voluntary return to one's home country, this doesn't apply to deported criminals.
The "parting gift" also sparks controversy on the X platform. "Unacceptable," says Christoph Ploß, CDU, angrily, "Has the traffic light government completely lost its mind?" Other users point to the legal situation and accuse Ploß and other critics of crude populism.
The topic is fueling an already heated debate. Whether the federal government will comment further remains uncertain.
The Federal government funds deportations through programs like REAG/GARP, managed by the BAMF, which provide financial aid for individuals seeking to return to their home country. However, this practice has drawn criticism from CDU politicians, such as Lena Duépont, who believe that providing money to deported criminals undermines law and order in Germany.
