Germans Deport Criminal Status Holders with Criminal Records, MPs Want Same Approach Here
Germany is, as a trial, deporting the most serious criminal foreigners faster with a taskforce. Convicted criminals are given a choice: a shorter prison sentence in exchange for immediate deportation. Last year, that involved 105 serious offenders. They chose faster release in return for returning to their own country.
The Netherlands also has the legal possibility, but in practice makes little use of it, at least when it comes to asylum seekers and status holders. Members of Parliament want asylum minister Bart van den Brink to investigate why the Netherlands does not apply the German approach. They believe he should speed things up.
Serious offenders
In Baden-Württemberg, governed by the Greens and the CDU, the new taskforce is a success. The local government allocated millions for sixty police, justice, and IT specialists who, together with the immigration service, focus on the accelerated deportation of the most serious criminals.
Already at an early stage, the 'Special Taskforce for Dangerous Foreigners' searches for the identity of suspects and starts negotiations, also with the country of origin. The earlier an agreement on sentence reduction is reached, the greater the chance that the convicted will cooperate with deportation.
Siegfried Lorek, State Secretary for Justice and Migration in the German federal state, is satisfied. "It is mainly about very serious offenders, murderers and dangerous persons. We had difficulty getting these people out of the country. With many staff, we now make deportations possible or organize 'controlled' return."
The approach is considered an example for all of Germany. Especially after the promises of the conservative government of Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who wants to follow a tougher line on migration.
Difference between the Netherlands and Germany
In the Netherlands, convicted foreigners can also receive sentence reductions in exchange for definitive departure. Last year, 330 people made use of this. The majority were from the Schengen area, countries that always cooperate. The group of serious criminals who were deported faster is relatively small: 46 people.
In Baden-Württemberg, it is different. Last year, 655 foreigners were deported with sentence reductions, including 105 serious offenders. Often people from countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Morocco, and Algeria.
The German taskforce is led by the chief commissioner of police. "To come to our attention, someone must have committed multiple offenses within a short time. Not minor matters, but serious violent crimes," says Marcus Winter, chief commissioner and project leader.
For example, a large Syrian family suspected of more than 160 crimes such as extortion, assault, and attempted manslaughter was almost entirely deported voluntarily. Each person received over 1000 euros. According to Lorek, "considerably cheaper" than if they had remained in Germany.
"The Public Prosecution Service decides when we can deport someone," says Lorek. "Usually after half of the sentence. That also saves costs: detention costs about 200 euros per day." The imposed sentence remains, says Lorek. Deported criminals who return to Europe risk immediate extradition to Germany and must still serve the rest of the sentence.
Law firms assisting asylum seekers and status holders notice that almost everyone agrees to the offer. "They have to leave their life in Germany behind. But if they are going to be deported anyway after their detention, many choose the lesser evil: leaving after half their sentence," says lawyer Marie Wenger.
There is also fear of a slippery slope. "If there are calls for more and more deportations, then people who are not so dangerous at all can also be deported. People with lighter offenses who do not pose a danger to German society," says Wenger.
Problems in implementation
In the Netherlands, a good solution for heavily sentenced foreigners is still lacking, according to several MPs. "Why don't we do this? Because it is simply possible. I say: speed it up," says VVD MP Ulysse Ellian.
According to criminology professor Joanne van der Leun, the Netherlands remains stuck in general policy. "There is a call for new policy. But practically it is difficult to get off the ground. While we also have this legislation. The problems lie in implementation: sharing information and services that do not find each other well. We then choose the foreigners who are easier to deport, for less serious crime. That is a shame."
Asylum minister Van den Brink emphasizes that the Netherlands uses a much broader range of options. "Also sentence interruption, which we also did last year. But the Repatriation and Departure Service has many more instruments. We actually try to focus on all those matters simultaneously," he says to Nieuwsuur.
CDA MP Jeltje Straatman believes that the German approach should now be looked at much more closely. "That makes Dutch society safer." She is not worried about the costs of the approach. "We have a shortage of prison cells, so it can also save money. How is it possible that we do not apply this on a broader scale? The minister can simply show a cost picture: what does it cost and what does it yield?"