Germany to Facilitate Deportation Laws for Foreigners Following Cologne Attacks

In response to public outrage in Germany over the attacks that occurred during New Year's celebrations in Cologne, the government plans to facilitate laws regarding the deportation of foreigners who commit crimes. According to the Associated Press, German police reported receiving a total of 553 complaints regarding the attacks that night, of which approximately 45% were sexual assaults against women, with most offenders being foreign nationals. Under current German laws, in most cases, when an asylum seeker or refugee commits a crime, they are not deported because the danger they face in their home country may be considered a more serious reason against their expulsion from Germany. Thomas de Maizière, Germany's Minister of the Interior, stated at a press conference in Berlin on Tuesday, "According to the draft of this plan, the obstacles related to the extradition and deportation of foreigners who commit crimes will be reduced." This plan, which must be approved by the cabinet and then the German parliament, states that even a suspended prison sentence for individuals whose crimes are proven will be sufficient for their deportation from Germany. These crimes include homicide, causing bodily harm, sexual harassment and assaults, violent theft, and repeated shoplifting. The plan will also include offenses related to youth. According to the Minister of the Interior, a prison sentence longer than one year will increase the likelihood of extradition and deportation. He added, "This is a decisive yet reasonable reaction from the government to those who seek asylum in our country but think they can commit any crime without it affecting their right to stay in Germany." Heiko Maas, Germany's Minister of Justice, also mentioned that public pressure following the attacks and sexual assaults during the New Year's celebrations in Cologne has influenced the swift agreement on this plan. He added, "We owe the implementation of such regulations to the victims of these attacks and assaults. At the same time, it is essential to protect the rights of the majority of innocent refugees residing in Germany. It is unfair to equate all refugees with a group of criminals and offenders." The Minister of Justice also stated that changes would be made to laws regarding sexual crimes to better protect victims who are caught off guard or believe that resisting these assaults would lead to greater harm. Heiko Maas said, "This issue was one of the prominent cases we witnessed in the Cologne attacks, where victims faced a mob of attacking men." According to the Associated Press, German police say that most of the attackers in the Cologne incidents were foreigners, including several asylum seekers and political refugees. Victims of these attacks reported that the appearance and features of most attackers resembled "Arabs and North Africans." The sexual assaults and attacks on New Year's Eve in Cologne have heightened tensions regarding the large influx of migrants and refugees into Germany. In 2015, over one million refugees entered Germany. Cologne police report that they have identified 23 suspects so far. Additionally, federal police have identified another 32 suspects, nine of whom are from Algeria. Abdelmalek Sellal, the Prime Minister of Algeria, stated during his visit to Germany on Tuesday, "As a government and on behalf of the people of Algeria, we say that if these matters are proven, they are unacceptable to us." However, beyond the foreigners who commit crimes, the German government intends to quickly deport those migrants who are not genuine refugees by changing some regulations. Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany, stated that she discussed the increase in the number of Algerian migrants illegally entering Germany with Mr. Sellal and that agreements have been made regarding increased cooperation between the police of the two countries. The Chancellor added that very few Algerians are granted political asylum, and for most of them, "the policy of extradition will be implemented." Abdelmalek Sellal also mentioned that the two countries signed an agreement in 1997 regarding the extradition of Algerians who illegally enter Germany. Nevertheless, he emphasized, "It must be proven that these individuals are indeed Algerian, and this may prolong the process." A senior German police official stated on Tuesday that he believes the attacks that occurred on New Year's Eve in Cologne and other German cities are not linked to organized crime networks. The head of the criminal division of the federal police added in an interview, "It is true that these incidents occurred during New Year's celebrations in other cities as well. In my opinion, these attacks were somewhat organized, but not to the extent of organized crime networks and professional criminals who usually have their own hierarchy and leadership."