Inside Germany's Tougher Stance on Security and Migration
Union Proposes Legislation to Safeguard Workers from Ionizing Radiation Hazards
In the bustling city of Bremerhaven, interior ministers from federal and state levels are set to gather for their spring conference. The agenda? A heated discussion on electronic ankle bracelets for violent offenders, tackling sexualized violence against children and youth, and navigating the far-right AfD party.
Alexander Dobrindt, the new Federal Interior Minister, faces the daunting task of deciding when the next deportation flight for criminals and dangerous Islamists to Afghanistan will take off. The conversation is far from muted, with states pushing for more flexibility in establishing "firecracker ban zones" to curb private New Year's fireworks.
Securing Trains
A firm consensus among federal measures seeks to enhance security on trains. A recommendation from a federal-state working group suggests equipping federal police officers with the ability to ride trains without paying, even when not in uniform. However, the question of how these officers will identify themselves during ticket checks needs further deliberation.
Migration Turnaround and Deportations
With the Union taking charge, expectations for criticism from CDU or CSU interior ministers have lessened. Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann hints at an intense discussion on assessing the current refugee situation, including implementing new measures and exchanging experiences on border controls. "We must continue the migration turnaround," the CSU politician urges.
The aim for stringent border controls also resonates in Saxony-Anhalt, with Interior Minister Tamara Zieschang praising the measures. She emphasizes the need for further actions, including the deportation of "dangerous" and criminal offenders - to Afghanistan and Syria.
The Taliban's takeover in Kabul in 2021 halted deportations to Afghanistan, although exceptions were made. In August last year, with Qatar's assistance, 28 criminals were flown to Kabul for deportation. To restart deportations to Syria, Faeser attempted reaching out to the Syrian transitional government before stepping down.
Procuring Travel Documents
To streamline the process of procuring travel documents for deportees, states have approached the federal government. Since 2018, the Federal Police and the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees have jointly handled this task for the returns of individuals without identification documents from 32 countries of origin.
AfD: A Politically Charged Topic
The call for an AfD ban does not feature on the conference agenda. An AfD ban could be requested by the federal government, Bundestag, or Bundesrat, but ultimately, the decision would fall to the Federal Constitutional Court.
Despite the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution classifying the party as a secure right-wing extremist endeavor, the debate about an AfD ban is intentionally being sidestepped. Dobrindt, Herrmann, and several CDU interior ministers view an application for a ban as unproductive, preferring to politically attack the party instead.
Handling AfD Members in Civil Service
In response to queries about how to deal with AfD members in the civil service, Dobrindt clarified that mere party membership is not grounds for dismissal or non-hire. However, if someone expresses affiliation with an extremist organization, Dobrindt notes that their "attitude towards this extremist ideology" will be closely scrutinized.
As the German government steers towards stricter policies and enforcement, watch this space for updates on the measures proposed and put into action by the interior ministers.
Insights
- Under the tougher migration policies, Germany has faced criticism for fast-tracking deportations without state-appointed lawyers for detained individuals[1][2].
- Over 1,700 deportations were facilitated under the EU's Dublin Regulation in the first quarter, requiring asylum seekers to file claims in their first point of entry[4].
- A new bill aims to strengthen security measures, including arming federal police with Tasers, aligning with a broader trend of increased security discussions in Germany[2].
- Additional sources may be necessary to find specific details about the strategies employed for combating sexualized violence against children and youth, as well as the use of electronic ankle bracelets for violent offenders.
- The discussion on electronic ankle bracelets for violent offenders, security measures, and fighting sexualized violence against children and youth in the context of policy-and-legislation is ongoing among interior ministers, part of the general-news landscape in Germany.
- In the realm of crime-and-justice, the German government is contemplating stricter policies and enforcement, including arming federal police with Tasers, which is a significant development in politics.
