A decision by a Berlin administrative court regarding the federal Afghanistan resettlement program has drawn sharp criticism and calls for its termination. Jürgen Hardt, parliamentary spokesperson for foreign policy for the CDU/CSU fraction, voiced concerns, characterizing the program as “maximally intransparent and driven by pro-migration NGOs”. He reiterated a pledge to phase out the program, aligning with prior campaign promises.
Hardt emphasized that a legal review of commitments made by the German government regarding the program remains incomplete and that the lead Interior Ministry has yet to fully engage with the issue. He argued that the court’s decision in the specific case doesn’t reflect the will of the electorate and should be subject to a standard legal review at the higher administrative court level.
Questions have been raised regarding the authority under which individuals made the resettlement pledges. Hardt specifically requested clarification on who authorized these commitments and the legal basis upon which they were made, particularly concerning the potential legal obligation Germany would inherit.
The legal dispute arose following a recent court ruling in favor of an Afghan scientist, compelling the German government to issue visas for her and her family to enter Germany. The scientist had previously received a resettlement commitment under the program established in 2022. Numerous obstacles had previously prevented those visas from being issued and the individual had expressed concerns about potential deportation to Afghanistan from Pakistan. The court underscored that the government is legally bound by the resettlement promises it made.
In response to the court’s decision, Deborah Düring, the Green Party’s spokesperson for foreign policy, called for the expedited relocation of Afghans who have received resettlement pledges. She criticized the need for judicial intervention to compel the government to adhere to its own commitments, labeling it a “failure”. Düring further urged the government to swiftly conclude all outstanding visa procedures and promptly redeploy personnel to Pakistan to facilitate the process.