German Chancellor pledges to expel criminals among immigrants following deadly knife attack.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced that the interior ministry is actively working to facilitate the deportation of dangerous illegal immigrants, particularly to countries like Syria and Afghanistan.
During a session in the Bundestag, Mr. Scholz pledged to amend deportation regulations to allow the expulsion of immigrants convicted of severe offenses. This decision came in the aftermath of a fatal knife assault by an Afghan national, sparking demands for stricter immigration policies.
Expressing dismay over the recent attack in Mannheim, where a 29-year-old police officer was killed by an Afghan perpetrator, Mr. Scholz emphasized the need to deport criminals regardless of their country of origin, reiterating that criminals posing a risk to public security have no place in Germany.
The chancellor disclosed that Germany’s Federal Ministry of the Interior is actively working on enabling the deportation of terrorists and dangerous immigrants to countries in the Middle East, forming part of the government’s new strategy to combat radical extremism.
He further assured that deportation rules will be fortified for all individuals involved in terrorism or its support.
The suspect in the Mannheim attack, identified as a 25-year-old Afghan asylum-seeker who arrived in Germany in 2014, was apprehended after a violent stabbing spree that resulted in multiple injuries and the death of a police officer.
Following emergency surgery, the critically injured officer succumbed to his wounds, with Mr. Scholz recognizing him as a hero who sacrificed his life for the nation’s security and freedom.
Lamenting the incident as an act of terror motivated by radical Islamism, Mr. Scholz emphasized the government’s commitment to combat terrorism.
Immigration Top Concern for German Voters
Angst surrounding immigration policies has weighed heavily on German voters, with more than 40% expressing concern over refugee, asylum, and integration policies within the European Union, as per a recent survey.
Currently, Germany refrains from deportations to Afghanistan or Syria due to diplomatic constraints with the Taliban in Kabul and instability in Syria.
The feasibility and pace of deporting criminal foreigners remain uncertain, with doubts raised by opposition parties regarding the practicality of negotiating deportation agreements with the Taliban or neighboring countries.
Contributions from The Associated Press have been integrated into this article.
