A decision by the Berlin Administrative Court regarding the federal Afghan resettlement program has drawn criticism and renewed calls for its termination. Jürgen Hardt, the foreign policy spokesperson for the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, voiced concerns regarding the program’s lack of transparency and alleged influence from pro-migration non-governmental organizations. He reiterated a campaign promise to discontinue the initiative.
Hardt emphasized that a legal review of commitments made by the German government remains incomplete and the Interior Ministry, primarily responsible for the matter, has yet to engage substantially with the review process. He stated the court’s individual case ruling does not align with the expectations of voters and should be reviewed through the standard legal process at the Higher Administrative Court level.
Central to the controversy is the question of accountability for commitments made within the resettlement program. Hardt demanded clarification regarding who authorized the assurances and on what legal basis, particularly given the potential implications for Germany’s future obligations.
The recent court decision stemmed from a case involving an Afghan female scientist who had previously received an acceptance pledge under the 2022 program. Despite this pledge, the visa processing had faced repeated obstacles, with the scientist fearing potential deportation to Afghanistan from Pakistan. The court affirmed that the government is legally bound by the acceptance commitments it made.
Responding to the court’s ruling, Deborah Düring, the Greens’ foreign policy spokesperson, urged for the prompt relocation of Afghans who have received promises of resettlement. She criticized the government’s handling of the situation, stating that judicial intervention should not be necessary to enforce its own commitments. Düring also called for the expedited completion of all visa procedures and the immediate redeployment of personnel to Pakistan to facilitate the process.
