Saxon authorities are calling for a review of procedures following the disappearance of three Afghan nationals facing deportation prior to a scheduled flight on Friday.
According to Saxon Interior Minister Armin Schuster, the situation highlights a “noticeable misuse of asylum follow-up requests”. The individuals were initially detained under foreign removal custody, but their legal representatives subsequently filed asylum follow-up requests, necessitating their release. While the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (Bamf) reportedly issued a final decision on the cases, the individuals were no longer locatable before the planned deportation. Two of the men remain missing.
Minister Schuster defended the actions of Saxon authorities, stating that regulations were diligently followed. He expressed hope that the incoming federal government will prioritize the continuation of deportation flights to Afghanistan, believing it will foster greater confidence among judges tasked with decisions regarding detention. This increased trust, he suggests, could influence decisions on necessary restrictions of liberty.
Schuster intends to raise the issue of “noticeable misuse of asylum follow-up requests” at the upcoming Interior Ministers Conference. He emphasized that those involved were subject to deportation and had exhausted all legal avenues following the completion of their asylum proceedings. He voiced concern regarding the repeated use of unsubstantiated asylum follow-up requests to obstruct, delay, or prevent deportations, deeming the practice unacceptable.