Germany’s largest opposition party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), has called for the swift deportation of asylum seekers who commit criminal offenses.
CDU Secretary General Carsten Linnemann urged that asylum seekers automatically lose their residency status if they commit two intentional crimes.
“It is intolerable that there are people with countless convictions, yet it has no bearing on whether they should stay in the country or not,” Linnemann remarked. “After a warning shot, the right to reside should end if someone commits a second intentional crime.”
The CDU is focusing on amendments to paragraphs 53 and 54 of the Residence Act, which govern the circumstances under which foreigners may be deported. These provisions allow for deportation after a single intentional crime, though each case is assessed individually, considering factors like the severity of the offense, how long the individual has lived in Germany, and conditions in their home country.
Despite the ongoing uncertainty in Syria after the fall of President Bashar al-Assad, CDU leader Friedrich Merz has reiterated his position on deporting Syrians convicted of crimes.
