Cologne accused of stalling the deportations of people from the Western Balkans

A major controversy has erupted in Cologne over allegations that local authorities have deliberately hindered deportation processes for migrants from the Western Balkans. According to data obtained by the Cologne-based newspaper Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger, approximately 12,000 criminal investigations have been initiated or are ongoing against around 2,100 foreign nationals who have already received orders to leave Germany or face deportation. The figures come from the North Rhine-Westphalia Criminal Police Office and relate specifically to individuals registered in two migrant centers in Unna and Coesfeld. These cases involve a range of offenses, including violent crimes such as murder and sexual assault, as well as minor infractions like driving without a license or disturbing public order. The focus of the investigation has centered on individuals living within the city limits of Cologne, with some members of so-called "clans" reportedly facing up to 150 criminal charges each. Many of these charges include relatively minor offenses. What has raised concerns is the suggestion that the Cologne Foreigners' Office may have intentionally delayed or even obstructed the deportation process for certain individuals. In November 2024, the central office in Coesfeld, responsible for rejected asylum seekers from the Western Balkans, sent a list of 471 names to the Cologne office, all of whom were deemed eligible for deportation. These individuals hailed primarily from Serbia, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, and Kosovo. Coesfeld offered assistance in issuing temporary travel documents to those lacking passports, which would be necessary for their deportation. However, the response from Cologne was limited to a department handling 218 foreigners with potential prospects for remaining in Germany. This department stated that assistance with travel documents was unnecessary. Instead, there were indications that Cologne officials were considering ways to allow these individuals to stay permanently in Germany. Meanwhile, 40 individuals from the list had been quietly removed from the registry of those eligible for deportation, with no official explanation given. The revelation of this list sparked political controversy in Cologne. Critics accused the city administration of knowingly preventing deportations and ignoring existing legal obligations. Detlef Seif, a representative of the ruling Christian Democrats under Mayor Friedrich Merz, criticized the local authorities for an "outrageous disregard" of federal guidelines. The conservative tabloid Bild reported that instead of removing these individuals, Cologne sought to integrate them, suggesting the list had been hidden away. The publication described the situation as an "unbelievable scandal involving institutions." Many of those named on the list hold what is known as a "Duldung," or tolerated status, meaning they are not recognized as refugees or asylum seekers but remain in Germany due to various reasons such as health issues or lack of documentation. Advocacy groups have warned that many of the cases listed involve minor offenses rather than serious crimes that would legally justify deportation. Initial checks of Cologne's foreigner’s office showed that no one had universally dismissed the possibility of deportation or actively prevented it. Yet, it remains unclear why Cologne did not provide a centralized and comprehensive response to Coesfeld’s inquiry. It is also uncertain how many attempts at deportation have actually been made. For a deportation to succeed, numerous conditions must align, such as the country of origin agreeing to accept the returnee, and the police being able to locate individuals before scheduled deportation flights. This latter task is particularly challenging. According to Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger, in the two years following the submission of the list, 152 individuals from it were again targeted for investigations into possible criminal activities. Some media outlets suggest that the majority of those involved are Roma from Serbia and neighboring countries. The conservative newspaper Welt claimed that Cologne had prevented the deportation of "Roma who committed criminal acts and were obligated to leave the country." The issue has drawn sharp criticism from both political opponents and advocacy groups, with calls for transparency and accountability in the handling of deportation procedures. As the debate continues, the situation highlights the complex interplay between immigration policy, law enforcement, and social integration efforts in Germany.