Austria's first sex offender: deportation to Kabul started!

Austria's first sex offender: deportation to Kabul started!

Austria was the first European country to deport a convicted sex offender to Kabul. Interior Minister Gerhard Karner reiterated the need to create a strong alliance within Europe to prepare for further deportations, especially to Afghanistan and Syria. Several more returns to these crisis countries are also planned, which the Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum wants to organize. Karner is striving for a tough and consistent asylum policy that is directed against illegal immigration.

In order to develop a better understanding of the challenges at Europe's external borders, Karner is also planning a local inspection of the Finnish-Russian border. This decision follows the escalation of illegal migration by Russia, which has brought more migrants to Finland's external border. In December 2023, Finland closed its approximately 1,300 kilometer long land border with Russia in order to strengthen control over its borders.

EU-wide return strategies

The need for action is also obvious at the EU level. 20 European countries, including Germany, have made an appeal to the EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner to create more opportunities for the return of Afghans without residency rights to their homeland. The letter, which also lists Austria as a supporter, was published by the Dutch government. In the EU, 22,870 Afghans received a return decision last year, but only 435 of them actually returned to Afghanistan.

The signatory states share the view that the issue of return of asylum seekers, especially criminals, should be addressed as a shared responsibility at EU level. There are calls for increased consideration of options for deportations, especially for people who pose a threat to public order or national security. In this context, Germany is already actively negotiating with the Taliban, although it does not maintain diplomatic relations with the regime in Kabul; Conversations are considered to be well advanced.

Difficulties with deportations

A key problem remains that deportations of Afghans and Syrians in Europe face legal and practical challenges. Thousands of Afghans and Syrians in Europe are obliged to leave the country, but many of them remain untraceable for various reasons or cannot be returned to their home countries. Migration strategies are therefore constantly being reconsidered, especially in view of the unstable situation in Afghanistan since the Taliban came to power four years ago and the ongoing human rights violations in the country.

To address this, various countries, including Greece, have introduced specific laws to facilitate returns. Sweden, on the other hand, is planning collective flights for returns, but has deported criminals via Uzbekistan in the past. Italy has also joined the 20-country initiative, but relies on weak return programs and prefers voluntary returns.

Given the challenges and the different approaches of the European states, it remains to be seen how effectively the planned return measures can actually be implemented.