A 27-year-old Eritrean migrant, Yonas A., has become a stark example of Germany’s struggle to deport violent offenders. Despite a string of horrific crimes, including gang rape, assaults, and threats, deportation efforts have stalled, sparking widespread criticism of the government’s handling of dangerous illegal migrants.
In 2017, Yonas A. and three accomplices gang-raped a 56-year-old woman in Dessau. During the brutal attack, he held a broken beer bottle to her neck, threatening to stab her if she resisted. Convicted and sentenced to six years in prison, he was expected to be deported upon release. However, after his release in 2023, he unleashed a new wave of crime.
Within nine weeks, Yonas A. committed at least ten offenses. Among these incidents, he threatened supermarket staff with a kitchen knife after being caught stealing alcohol, spat at responding officers, and caused a scene in an electronics store. In May 2024, he attacked a German father, Matthias K., after recklessly running a red light. When confronted, Yonas A. threatened to gouge out the man’s eye with a hairpin and screamed, “I’ll cut off your head.” Matthias K. recorded the terrifying encounter on his phone.
When questioned in court about his behavior, Yonas A. claimed, “I was sad about my homeland.” Yet, attempts to deport him have hit a wall. Eritrea’s refusal to issue replacement passports for unwilling returnees and strict privacy laws in Germany make deportation nearly impossible.
This case mirrors other situations involving criminal migrants in Germany. For instance, a Moroccan migrant with over 100 criminal charges in a small town remains in the country despite numerous deportation attempts.
The ongoing inability to deport violent offenders like Yonas A. underscores Germany’s struggles with balancing personal rights, legal frameworks, and public safety. Critics argue that such cases erode trust in the government’s ability to protect its citizens.
