- In Solingen: Minister Paul Enacts Repercussions for Asylum Procedures
Regarding the alleged knife attacker in Solingen, as per statements from NRW's Minister for Refugees, Josefine Paul (Greens), there were issues with local authorities and a scarcity of transportation options that hindered the prompt expulsion of the individual. The minister outlined initial responses.
On a Friday evening, an individual wielding a knife carried out an attack at a city festival, resulting in the death of three individuals and injuries to eight others. The alleged perpetrator is a 26-year-old Syrian named Issa Al H., who is currently in custody.
Absence of Return Flights
The man entered Germany via Bulgaria and was supposed to be deported back to his country per EU asylum regulations. However, this didn't transpire as the man couldn't be located at the central lodging facility in Paderborn on the designated day in June 2023, according to Paul. Despite his reappearance there shortly before and after, the staff of the Paderborn facility neglected to inform the Central Foreigners' Authority (ZAB) in Bielefeld.
The next issue was that the responsible ZAB didn't schedule a new deportation flight for the Syrian. The deadline for deportation was six months, but due to Bulgarian regulations, there are very few potential flights to Sofia. Therefore, a new flight could only have been arranged post-deadline, approximately in 11 to 13 weeks. No land transfer was an option.
Adjustments for Asylum Authorities
In the future, communal accommodation facilities must promptly report reappearances of asylum seekers following unsuccessful deportations, stated Paul. The foreigners' authorities must also swiftly arrange a new flight. They should also gain access to the central presence system of the accommodation facilities to monitor the presence of deportation-obliged persons themselves. Paul also advocated for improved national coordination of deportation flights.
"This system is so complicated and fundamentally dysfunctional," said Paul. Failed deportations are the norm. Only 10 to 15% of transfers as per Dublin rules are successful. Concerning the unsuccessful deportation of the suspected attacker from Solingen, Paul said: "The case before Friday evening is undoubtedly one of the hundreds in this country."
Paul referred to "issues" with the authorities rather than errors, as the procedural processes weren't clearly defined. "The process is no longer functional." The complexity is excessive. "We owe it to the victims, we owe it to the families, and to Solingen to truly investigate this."
Due to the absence of a return flight, the Syrian individual's deportation was delayed past the six-month deadline, highlighting the need for improved coordination and prompt action by asylum authorities. The incident of the alleged knife attacker in Solingen serves as a stark example of the complex and often dysfunctional migration processes, with failed deportations being a common occurrence.
