Germany Plans to Use Military Transport Aircraft to Deport Economic Migrants

Strategic Insights -

The German government is considering a radical plan to use military transport aircraft to speed up the deportation of tens of thousands of economic migrants, in an effort to deter those with no genuine claim to asylum. As public opposition to her refugee policy rises, Chancellor Angela Merkel is under pressure to take tougher action to address the influx of migrants. The country is struggling to cope with an expected 800,000 asylum-seekers this year, with 193,500 still in the country despite having their applications for asylum rejected.

Key Takeaways:

  • The German government plans to use military transport aircraft to deport economic migrants whose asylum claims have been rejected, in an effort to speed up the process.
  • Only 11,522 rejected asylum-seekers have been deported so far this year, with a further 21,000 having left the country voluntarily.
  • The new plan aims to prevent migrants from fleeing to another part of the country by not giving them notice of deportation orders.
  • A review of the asylum criteria is underway, and "intensive negotiations" are planned with migrants' home countries to repatriate them.
  • The government is also considering setting up "transit zones" on the border where asylum-seekers would be held until their applications were decided.
  • The measures come as a new poll finds that 54% of Germans are now "very worried" about the refugee situation, up from 40% in August.
  • Despite the challenges, most of Germany's major cities are coping better than previously thought, with only three of the 30 largest cities' mayors' offices saying they are struggling.

Statistics:

  • 193,500 asylum-seekers are still in the country despite having their applications for asylum rejected.
  • Only 11,522 rejected asylum-seekers have been deported so far this year.
  • A further 21,000 have left the country voluntarily.
  • 800,000 asylum-seekers are expected to arrive in Germany this year.
  • 54% of Germans are now "very worried" about the refugee situation, up from 40% in August.
  • Only three of the 30 largest cities' mayors' offices said they are struggling to cope with the influx of refugees.

Sources:

  • [Bild newspaper]
  • [Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper]
  • [Spiegel magazine]