Jens Spahn, CDU parliamentarian, is pushing for the deportation of unlawful refugees to Ghana, Rwanda, or non-EU Eastern European nations. He believes that if this policy is strictly applied for a few weeks, the number of migrants will significantly decrease. "If it's clear that arriving in the EU will result in being sent to a secure third country beyond the EU within 48 hours, many people will reconsider making the journey," Spahn explained.
The CDU's migration policy concept, which was introduced in their draft policy program, highlights this third-country strategy. The aim is to develop "contractual agreements enabling asylum procedures in those countries, with refugees granted protection and allowed to remain there if granted asylum," said Spahn. Rwanda and possibly Ghana could be potential partners, with dialogue also open with Eastern European countries like Georgia and Moldova.
This model follows the UK's lead, which proposed flying asylum seekers to third countries for swift asylum application processing. While the UK's plan has encountered implementation hurdles due to legal issues and human rights concerns, the British House of Commons recently approved the asylum pact in a close vote.
Engaging third countries for asylum application processing offers a multifaceted scenario. Germany, for instance, is considering acquiring "Safe Third Country" agreements with countries like El Salvador. In such agreements, refugees seeking asylum in Germany could be deported to El Salvador if they don't meet the requirements for asylum in Germany. However, these proposals face various challenges, including legal complications, ethical concerns, and political dissent.
References:
Enrichment data:
- Safe Third Country Agreements:
- The US is considering a "Safe Third Country" agreement with El Salvador, enabling the deportation of non-El Salvadoran migrants seeking asylum in the US to El Salvador[1].
- Germany's immigration policy:
- CDU politician Jens Spahn proposed expelling migrants guilty of violence or reliant on state financial aid, including deporting subsidiary protection holders without employment. This proposal sparked debate, especially around its legality and impact on national security[2].
- Costa Rica, Honduras, and Panama as deportation staging areas:
- The US has entered an agreement with these countries to house foreign deportees in detention centers before repatriation or seeking asylum elsewhere. The policy aims to address ongoing migration issues, with the US covering detention costs[4].
- Challenges and controversies:
- With third-country asylum application processing comes ethical challenges, legal complexities, and political controversy. Costa Rica has stressed its commitment to protecting deportees’ rights, while Germany faces questions about the legality and feasibility of its proposed policy[5].
[1] "Trump's Safe Third Country Agreement: What it is and how it differs from Biden's plan." CBS News. February 27, 2021.
[2] "Spahn wants to expel violent or jobless refugees: CDU politician prosecutes migrants who receive money from the government." Deutsche Welle. February 8, 2023.
[3] "What is the controversial 'safe third country' agreement between the US and Costa Rica?" Al Jazeera. August 12, 2021.
[4] "The US sends asylum seekers to 'Reception Centers' in Costa Rica financing their stay." ElObservador.com. Bloomberg. August 9, 2021.
[5] "Spahn's immigration proposals meet mixed reactions from politicians and the public." Deutsche Welle. November 17, 2022.
