News from the Borders

Border News is also available directly on your cell phone: Here’s the link to the Telegram-Channel.

Here I inform you daily about everything that is happening in European asylum and migration policy and at the external borders.

News from the Borders 29.08.2024

  • Videos zeigen, wie hunderte Menschen, darunter viele Jugendliche, versuchen, von Marokko in die spanische Enklave Ceuta zu schwimmen. Sie wurden von der Polizei bereits im Wasser abgefangen. Die Zeit berichtet.

  • Jetzt schlägt auch Kretschmer vor, Asylsuchende nach Afghanistan und Syrien abzuschieben, weil es dort angeblich auch sichere Regionen gibt. Diese Forderung der CDU ist vollkommen realitätsfremd und weckt Erwartungen, die sich nicht erfüllen lassen. Zum Welt-Artikel.

  • Mitarbeiter:innen des Jugendamts berichten von systemischen Missständen bei der Betreuung minderjähriger Geflüchteter in Deutschland. Das ist mit dem Schutz des Kindeswohls nicht vereinbar. More on this in the Tagesschau.

News from the Borders 28.08.2024

  • Im MDR erklärt ein Experte, warum es in Syrien aktuell keine Region gibt, die sicher ist und Abschiebungen daher auf keinen Fall möglich sind. Diese Forderung von Politikern wie Merz weckt wieder nur unrealistische Erwartungen. Mehr dazu beim Deutschlandfunk. Unsere Kritik an Merz.

  • Eine RTL-Recherche deckt auf, wie die AfD mit rechtsextremistischen Gruppen wie der Identitären Bewegung aus Österreich gemeinsame Sache macht, um ihre politischen Ziele voranzutreiben. NTV berichtet.

  • Warum wir mit Schnellschüssen in der aktuellen Migrationsdebatte nach Solingen aufpassen müssen und Populismus keine Lösung gegen Islamismus ist, erkläre ich im Tageblatt. Hier gehts zum Artikel.

News from the Borders 27.08.2024

  • Beim Versuch, mit einem Boot von der Türkei nach Griechenland überzusetzen, wurde ein Schutzsuchender von der griechischen Küstenwache erschossen. Mehr Infos dazu hier.

  • Friedrich Merz hetzt nach dem Terroranschlag in Solingen gegen Geflüchtete und will, dass keine weiteren Asylsuchenden aus Syrien und Afghanistan aufgenommen werden. Dafür will er auch Menschen an den Grenzen zurückweisen. Zum ARD Brennpunkt Interview mit Merz.

  • Die spanische Regierung fordert mehr Menschlichkeit im Umgang mit Flüchtenden und mahnt davor, sich den Positionen rechtspopulistischer Parteien anzunähern. Euractiv berichtet (en).

News from the Borders 26.08.2024

  • Heute vor 40 Jahren wurden bei einem rassistischen Brandanschlag sieben Menschen in Duisburg getötet. Wir gedenken. Mehr dazu bei RP Online.

  • Neue Regeln der Taliban schränken die Rechte von Frauen in Afghanistan weiter ein. Zum Beispiel dürfen sie in der Öffentlichkeit nicht mehr laut singen, vorlesen oder rezitieren. The Tagesschau reports.

  • Ungarn setzt jetzt ukrainische Geflüchtete auf die Straße, die aus Gebieten kommen, in denen angeblich nicht gekämpft wird. Zur Frankfurter Rundschau.

News from the Borders 23.08.2024

  • Innenministerin Faeser will rechtliche Hürden bei der Abschiebung von afghanischen Straftäter:innen abbauen, indem sie ihnen Geld für die Rückführung gibt. SZ berichtet.

  • Mindestens 10 Menschen sind tot, nachdem ein Boot mit über 20 Schutzsuchenden beim Überqueren des Grenzflusses von Serbien nach Bosnien gekentert ist. Zum Artikel bei RP Online.

  • Der als „Volkslehrer“ bekannte Rechtsextremist Nikolai Nerling hat auf Telegram ukrainische Geflüchtete beleidigt und wurde dafür wegen Volksverhetzung verurteilt. Mehr dazu hier.

News from the Borders 22.08.2024

  • Der UN-Sonderberichterstatter für Menschenrechtsverteidiger:innen verurteilt Italiens Festsetzen von zivilen Rettungsschiffen im Mittelmeer. Dies sei eine Verletzung des Völkerrechts, die Menschenleben gefährdet. Zum Brief an die italienische Regierung (en).

  • Ibrahim B. wurde letzte Woche von Niederbayern nach Sierra Leone abgeschoben, obwohl er mitten in seiner Altenpflegeausbildung war. Trotz gutem Zeugnis und absolutem Mangel an Pflegekräften in Deutschland wurde ihm keine Ausbildungsduldung erteilt. Mehr Infos beim Bayerischen Flüchtlingsrat.

  • Rechtsextreme Straftaten sind in Deutschland auf einem Rekordhoch, angetrieben von zunehmender Hetze online und in der Politik. Die AfD ist da ganz vorne mit dabei. Die FR berichtet.

News from the Borders 21.08.2024

  • Ein schwedischer Regierungsausschuss will bis November einen Plan zur Umsetzung eines sogenannten Spitzelgesetzes erarbeiten. Dadurch wären Beschäftigte des öffentlichen Sektors gezwungen, Menschen ohne Aufenthaltspapiere den Behörden zu melden. The Guardian berichtet (en).

  • 2023 wurden 280 humanitäre Helfer:innen getötet, das ist die höchste Todeszahl jemals. Dieses Jahr dürfte die Zahl noch weiter steigen, auch wegen des Kriegs im Gazastreifen. Zum Zeit Online-Artikel.

  • Als Reaktion auf die steigende Gewalt gegen Mädchen und Frauen will die britische Regierung stärker gegen Frauenfeindlichkeit vorgehen und sie deshalb als Form von Extremismus werten. Mehr dazu im Spiegel.

News from the Borders 20.08.2024

  • Diese Woche sind die rassistischen Angriffe von Rostock-Lichtenhagen genau 32 Jahre her. Wir müssen sicherstellen, dass sich die Baseballschläger-Jahre nicht wiederholen und konsequent gegen Rassismus aufstehen. Mehr Infos bei der Stadt Rostock.

  • Im Iran wurde erneut eine Frau von der Sittenpolizei angegriffen, weil sie keinen Hijab trug. Sie wurde in ihrem Auto angeschossen und liegt seitdem gelähmt im Krankenhaus. The taz reports.

  • Nach vorläufigen Zahlen gab es in Brandenburg von April bis Juni diesen Jahres 51 Straftaten gegen Geflüchtete und deren Unterkünfte. Das sind zwar weniger Übergriffe als letztes Jahr, aber immer noch 51 zu viel. Zum Tagesspiegel-Artikel.

News from the Borders 19.08.2024

  • Beim Christopher Street Day in Leipzig sind am Wochenende Neonazis und andere Rechtsextreme aufmarschiert und haben unter anderem den Hitlergruß und das White Power-Symbol gezeigt. Mehr dazu bei der Zeit.

  • Die Zahl von Schutzsuchenden, die auf den Kanarischen Inseln ankommen, ist im Vergleich zum gleichen Zeitraum im Vorjahr um 126 Prozent gestiegen. Ein Grund dafür ist die eskalierende Gewalt in der Sahelzone. Euractiv reports.

  • Die Zahl der Geflüchteten, die in Ausreisegewahrsam am Flughafen BER in Brandenburg inhaftiert sind und abgeschoben werden sollen, hat sich innerhalb eines Jahres mehr als verdoppelt. Die Menschen dort scheinen außerdem nur sehr eingeschränkten Zugang zu Rechtsberatung und -vertretung zu haben. Zum Artikel in der taz.

News from the Borders 16.08.2024

  • „Wir werden sie nicht zurücklassen” war vor drei Jahren das Versprechen der deutschen Politik nachdem die Taliban Afghanistan überrannte. Drei Jahre später geht die Debatte in Populismus unter und die Menschen um die es geht kommen kaum zu Wort. Das wollen Leavenoonebehind und der Journalist Emran Feroz ändern. Zum Videostatement.
  • Die Menschenrechtslage hat sich laut Hilfsorganisationen seit der Machtübernahme der Taliban in Afghanistan extrem verschlechtert – vor allem für Frauen und Mädchen. Tagesschau berichtet.
  • „Ja, Einwanderung bringt Herausforderungen mit sich, aber diese müssen auf faire und praktikable Weise bewältigt werden. Populistische Politiker werden die Einwanderung nie „kontrollieren” können. Es gibt humane Alternativen”, schreibt der UN-Hochkommissar für Flüchtlinge Filippo Grandi im the Guardian. Zum Kommentar.

News from the Borders 15.08.2024

  • Die Bundesregierung will das Bundesaufnahmeprogramm Afghanistan BAP ab 2025 nicht mehr finanzieren, obwohl die Taliban auch drei Jahre nach ihrer Machtübernahme Menschenrechtsverletzungen und Völkerrechtsverbrechen insbesondere an Frauen und Mädchen begehen. Am Ende entscheidet das Parlament darüber. Zur Pressemitteilung von Amnesty International.
  • Ein Boot mit 220 Menschen wurde Anfang dieser Woche vor der Westküste Libyens abgefangen. Menschenrechtsorganisationen sind nach wie vor besorgt über die Behandlung von Menschen, die routinemäßig nach Libyen zurückgeschickt werden, nachdem sie von den Seebehörden aufgegriffen wurden. To the report.
  • Die Bezahlkarte bringt nichts als eine Menge Ärger, Kosten und Arbeit im Alltag, meint Andrea Kothen von Pro Asyl. Zum Kommentar in ND.

News from the Borders 14.08.2024

  • Erneut wurden rechtswidrige Pushbacks der griechischen Küstenwache dokumentiert.Diesmal betraf es ein Boot mit 64 Menschen, darunter 13 Kinder, dass von griechischen Spezialkräften bewegungsunfähig gemacht und dann in türkische Gewässer abgeschleppt wurde. Hier der ausführliche Report der NGO Aegean Boat Report.
  • Südlich der Küste von Lampedusa retten Freiwillige jeden Tag Migranten in Seenot. Zeit Autor Nikolaus Hansen fuhr ehrenamtlich auf dem Rettungsschiff „Dakini“ mit. Hier sein Bericht in der Zeit.
  • Immer wieder fordern Politiker:innen medienwirksam die Abschaffung vom Bürgergeld für Ukrainer:innen. Warum es sich dabei um reinen Populismus handelt erklärt Pro Asyl. Zum Post.

News from the Borders 13.08.2024

  • Nachdem Menschen aus dem Meer gerettet wurden, weisen italienische Behörden den Rettungsschiffen immer wieder weit entfernte Häfen zu. Zuletzt hatte die #Humanity1 bei 4 Einsätzen an einem Tag über 270 Menschen an Bord aufgenommen. Daraufhin wurde ihnen ein Hafen zugewiesen der 4 Tage entfernt lag, obwohl medizinische Versorgung dringend benötigt wurde. Zum Tweet von SOS Humanity.
  • Warum richteten sich die Ausschreitungen in England gegen Flüchtlinge und Muslime? Die Soziologin Aleksandra Lewicki macht die Politik verantwortlich. Zum Interview in der Taz. 
  • In einem offenen Brief an die EU-Kommission, den ich ebenfalls unterzeichnet habe, haben einige grüne Politiker:innen die von Nancy Faeser erlassenen Binnengrenzkontrollen scharf kritisiert. Auch die Gewerkschaft der Polizei hat auf die enormen Kosten hingewiesen und die Wirksamkeit der Kontrollen verneint. Tagesspiegel reports.

News from the Borders 12.08.2024

  • In einem offenen Brief an die EU-Kommission kritisieren Grünenpolitikerinnen und -politiker die von Bundesinnenministerin Nancy Faeser angeordneten Binnengrenzkontrollen. Deutschland handele aktuell, wie sieben andere EU-Mitgliedsstaaten, nicht konform mit dem Schengener Grenzkodex, heißt es in dem Brief. „Zudem zeigt ein neues Fachgutachten, dass die beabsichtigte Wirkung der Grenzkontrollen und diesbezügliche Erfolgsmeldungen sehr fragwürdig und in vielen Fällen nicht statistisch belegt sind.“ Zeit berichtet.
  • Mehr als 500 Übergriffe auf Geflüchtete hat die deutsche Polizei in diesem Jahr bereits verzeichnet. Aktuelle Erkenntnisse der Ermittler zeigen: Die meisten Taten sind politisch rechts motiviert. DW reports.
  • Während die italienische Regierung damit prahlt, dass die Zahl der Ankünfte in 2024 um die Hälfte gesunken sei, ist die Zahl der Toten im Mittelmeer deutlich gestiegen, seitdem die ultra-rechte Premierministerin Georgia Meloni im Amt ist. Zum Post von Seawatch.

News from the Borders 09.08.2024

  • Münchner Aktivisten wollen mit einem Tauschsystem die Begrenzung der Bezahlkarte für Geflüchtete umgehen. In Hamburg wird das Tauschsystem bereits angewandt. Zum Bericht der SZ
  • Das Oberverwaltungsgericht in Münster hat in einem Fall geurteilt, dass in Syrien keine „ernsthafte, individuelle Bedrohung“ mehr für Zivilisten durch den Bürgerkrieg besteht. Der Bürgerkrieg ist allerdings schon seit mehreren Jahren nicht mehr der Hauptgrund, warum Syrer in Deutschland Schutz bekommen. Die allermeisten Syrer:innen, die in Deutschland im aktuellen Jahr subsidiären Schutz bekommen haben, bekamen ihn wegen „Gefahr der Folter oder unmenschlichen Behandlung“. Zur Statistik des Mediendienst-Integration.
  • Nochmal zum Urteil aus Münster „Keine bürgerkriegsbedingte ernsthafte allgemeine Gefahr für Leib und Leben der Zivilbevölkerung in Syrien“. Das Politik- und Medienecho, das auf die am 22. Juli 2024 veröffentlichte Pressemitteilung des Gerichts folgte, war gewaltig. Nun wurden die Urteilsgründe veröffentlicht und zeigen: Die politische und mediale Aufmerksamkeit, die die Entscheidung erfahren hat, steht in keinem Verhältnis zu deren Inhalt. Zur Analyse des Verfassungsblogs. 

News from the Borders 08.08.2024

  • Vor 2 Jahren, am 08.08.2022 wurde der 16-jährige Mouhamed Lamine Dramé in Dortmund von der Polizei durch 5 Kugeln einer Maschinenpistole getötet, obwohl die Polizei zu seiner Hilfe gerufen wurden. Die Taz berichtet über den Prozess und bezeichnet ihn als „verstörend“. Zum Bericht der Taz. Thread der Seebrücke zum Todestag.
  • Vor Sizilien ist ein Boot mit Schutzsuchenden mit der Küstenwache zusammengestoßen. Nach italienischen Angaben stürzten nach der Kollision insgesamt 34 Menschen ins Wasser. Zwei Personen starben, eine weitere Person wird noch vermisst. Zum Artikel im Tagesspiegel
  • In vielen ostdeutschen Bundesländern fehlen Unternehmen Tausende Fachkräfte, wie eine Untersuchung des Instituts der deutschen Wirtschaft in Köln zeigt. Da die Zahl der deutschen Beschäftigten sinkt, sind die Länder auf ausländische Fachkräfte angewiesen. Zum Artikel im manager-magazin.

News from the Borders 07.08.2024

  • Wie schon im vergangenen Jahr ist südwestlich von Pylos ein überfülltes Boot mit Geflüchteten gekentert. Ein Kreuzfahrtschiff rettete 77 Menschen und brachte sie in Sicherheit. Zeit berichtet.
  • Ein neues Gesetz soll es Uniformierten in Polen leichter machen, ihre Waffen einzusetzen, vor allem an den Grenzen. Kritiker befürchten Angriffe auf Wehrlose. Zum Artikel der SZ.
  • Saeid Fazloula startet als einer von 37 Sportlern mit Fluchthintergrund bei Olympia. Er war 2015 über die Balkanroute nach Deutschland geflüchtet. Die Geschichte des Kajakfahrers erzählt davon, was Menschen durchmachen, um zu überleben – und was Hilfe bewirkt. Zum Bericht des ZDF. 

News from the Borders 06.08.2024

  • Erneut wurden Verbrechen der griechischen Küstenwache dokumentiert: 8 Menschen sind durch einen Pushback der griechischen Küstenwache gestorben. Zum Bericht der NGO Aegean Boat Report
  • Der neue AIDA-Länderbericht des Europäischen Flüchtlingsrats für Deutschland 2023 ist erschienen. So zeigt die im Bericht enthaltende Asylstatistik, dass ein Großteil der Menschen, die in Deutschland und in der EU um Asyl suchten, einen anerkannten Fluchtgrund haben. Diesen Menschen steht ein Schutzstatus zu, die bereinigte Schutzquote lag bei circa 70 Prozent. Zum Bericht. Zur Übersicht von Pro Asyl. 
  • Nachdem das Sozialgericht in Nürnberg in zwei Fällen gegen die Bezahlkarte urteilte, beantragen die Grünen in Nürnberg nun die Bargeldobergrenze bei der Bezahlkarte solange auszusetzen, bis höchstrichterlich geklärt wurde ob diese zulässig ist. To the article.

News from the Borders 05.08.2024

  • Mit der Frankfurter Rundschau habe ich ausführlich über die Migrationspolitik in der EU gesprochen. Im Interview geht es unter anderem um Fehlannahmen in der Migrationsdebatte und darum, wo derzeit die wirklichen Probleme liegen, die gelöst werden sollten. To the interview.
  • Rund 1400 geflüchtete Ärzte aus der Ukraine warten auf ihre Zulassung. »Fachkräfte im Bürgergeld-Bezug zu belassen, statt sie dort einzusetzen, wo sie dringend gebraucht werden und auch arbeiten wollen, können wir uns schlicht nicht mehr leisten.«, kritisierte der Präsident der Deutschen Krankenhausgesellschaft, Gerald Gaß. Mirror reports 
  • Nachdem drei Mädchen bei einer Messerattacke in England starben, kursierten darüber viele Falschnachrichten und es kam zu Aufständen gegen Asylbewerber in mehreren Städten. Eine Gruppe von Rechtsextremen hat versucht, ein als Asylunterkunft genutztes Hotel in Tamworth zu stürmen. Zeit berichtet

News from the Borders 02.08.2024

  • Mit dem Sozialgericht Nürnberg gibt es bereits das zweite Urteil gegen die restriktive Bargeldobergrenze bei der Bezahlkarte. Zwei Geflüchtete hatten wegen wesentlicher Nachteile geklagt – und Recht bekommen. Mehr dazu in der SZ
  • Ab dem 1. September will Irland Sozialhilfeleistungen an ukrainische Flüchtlinge drastisch kürzen. Viele befürchten dadurch mehr Kinderarmut. Euronews berichtet.
  • Wer sich aus Russland oder Belarus als Gastarbeiter:in in Ungarn registriert, kann sehr einfach in den Schengenraum einreisen. Daran gibt es viel Kritik. Zum Spiegel-Artikel.

News from the Borders 01.08.2024

  • Auch nach dem Gerichtsurteil in Hamburg zur rechtswidrigen starren Bargeldobergrenze sehen einige Landkreise keinen Grund zum Umdenken bei der Bezahlkarte. Stattdessen wollen sie sie notfalls in Eigenregie durchsetzen. Zum Tagesspiegel.
  • Die Crew der Humanity 1 hat gestern 60 Menschen und eine Katze auf der Flucht von Libyen aus Seenot retten können. Italien hat ihnen zum Dank einen fast 1000 km entfernten Hafen zugewiesen. Zum Tweet von SOS Humanity

News from the Borders 31.07.2024

  • Seit dem Todesurteil gegen die Aktivistin Sharifeh Mohammadi und die kurdische Sozialarbeiterin Pakhshan Azizi protestieren weibliche Gefangene in Teheran gegen diese und weitere Todesurteile. The taz reports.

  • Mal wieder Bürgergeldpopulismus von der CDU: Generalsekretär Carsten Linnemann will das Bürgergeld für mehr als 100.000 Menschen komplett streichen. Zum Tagesspiegel-Artikel.

News from the Borders 30.07.2024

  • Warum Grenzkontrollen irreguläre Migration nicht stoppen werden und wir unseren Umgang mit Asylsuchenden in Europa ändern müssen, wenn uns der Rechtsstaat lieb ist, erkläre ich bei IPPEN.MEDIA. To the article.

  • Amnesty International zeigt in einem Bericht erneut, dass Asylsuchende auf der griechischen Insel Samos systematisch inhaftiert und ihrer Rechte beraubt werden. RND reports. Zum Bericht (en).

  • Laut der EU-Grundrechteagentur sind Menschenrechtsverletzungen gegenüber Asylsuchenden an den EU-Außengrenzen weit verbreitet, ebenso wie faktische Straflosigkeit für diese Verbrechen. Mehr dazu beim RND. Zum FRA-Bericht.

  • Immer mehr Schutzsuchende geraten in die Fänge von Menschenhändlern. Ein Grund dafür ist die zunehmende Kriminalisierung von Migration in der EU. Zum DW-Artikel.

News from the Borders 29.07.2024

  • Die EU-Kommission verklagt Deutschland vor dem EU-Gerichtshof, weil es mobile Arbeitnehmer:innen aus anderen EU-Ländern bei bestimmten Sozialleistungen diskriminiert hat. Mehr dazu hier.

  • Die Lage an der Grenze zu Belarus eskaliert immer weiter. Nun will die polnische Regierung den Sicherheitskräften erlauben, Schutzsuchende notfalls auch mit Schüssen abzuwehren. T-Online reports.

News from the Borders 26.07.2024

  • Der EU-Rechtsstaatsbericht ist draußen und kritisiert vor allem Ungarn und die Slowakei. Aber auch in Deutschland ist Luft nach oben, zum Beispiel bei der Lobbykontrolle und Medienrechten. Mehr dazu in der Tagesschau.

  • Mal eine gute Nachricht: Die neue britische Regierung ändert weiter den Kurs und will ab 2025 keine Geflüchteten mehr auf dem schwimmenden Lastkahn Bibby Stockholm unterbringen. MiGAZIN berichtet. Zum Hintergrund.

News from the Borders 25.07.2024

  • In Zypern wurden 53 Schutzsuchende in eine Pufferzone zurückgedrängt, die den türkisch besetzten Norden vom Süden trennt. Dort sitzen sie jetzt unter unmenschlichen Bedingungen fest. The Guardian berichtet (en).

  • Die offizielle Zahl der Toten und Vermissten im Mittelmeer seit 2014 liegt laut der Internationalen Organisation für Migration (IOM) inzwischen bei über 30.000 Menschen, in Wirklichkeit dürften es noch viel mehr sein. Das ist das Ergebnis einer gescheiterten europäischen Asylpolitik. Zum Missing Migrants Projekt der IOM. To the tweet from Sea-Watch.

News from the Borders 24.07.2024

  • Im ersten Halbjahr 2024 sind viermal mehr minderjährige Geflüchtete in Griechenland angekommen als im Jahr davor. Jedes vierte Kind war ohne Familie oder Vormund unterwegs. Zur PM von Save the Children.

  • Es gibt immer mehr Berichte von rechtswidrigen Zurückweisungen an deutschen Grenzen. Statt Asylanträge rechtsstaatlich zu prüfen, werden Schutzsuchende zurückgewiesen. Es darf nicht sein, dass die Bundespolizei willkürlich gegen geltendes Recht verstößt, wir werden dem nachgehen. Zum Artikel im Tagesspiegel (Paywall).

  • Mehr als 100 Menschen sind letztes Jahr bei einem Schiffbruch vor Kalabrien gestorben. Jetzt will die italienische Staatsanwaltschaft sechs Mitglieder der Guardia di Finanza und der Küstenwache anklagen – wegen mehrfachen Totschlags und fahrlässiger Verursachung eines Schiffbruchs. The SZ reports.

News from the Borders 23.07.2024

  • Ein Bürgergeld-Berater erklärt, warum die Debatte über Bürgergeld-Empfänger:innen in Deutschland zynisch ist. To the article.

  • Bei den diesjährigen Olympischen Spielen werden auch sechs Afghaninnen an den Start gehen, drei für das Refugee Olympic Team und drei für das Afghanische Nationale Olympische Komitee. Keine von ihnen lebt noch in Afghanistan oder repräsentiert die Taliban. Mehr dazu bei ORF.

News from the Borders 22.07.2024

  • Heute gedenken wir den Menschen, die bei dem rechtsextremistischen Anschlag am 22. Juli 2011 in Norwegen ermordet wurden. Rechtsextremismus ist und bleibt eine der größten Gefahren unserer Demokratie. Zum Tweet von NSU Watch.

  • Am Wochenende kamen an einem Tag mehr als 300 Schutzsuchende auf Gran Canaria an, darunter viele unbegleitete Minderjährige. To the Euronews article.

News from the Borders 19.07.2024

  • Laut einer SWR-Recherche will die AfD nach den Landtagswahlen im Herbst dafür sorgen, dass Sachsen und Thüringen flüchtlingsfeindlicher werden. Der Spiegel reports.

  • Die Europäische Kommission will ab Juli noch stärker gegen irreguläre Migration vorgehen, zum Beispiel durch Einschränkungen bei der Visavergabe. Mehr dazu bei Euractiv.

  • Obwohl das Verwaltungsgericht Chemnitz in einem Eilbeschluss entschieden hat, dass die Abschiebung ausgesetzt werden muss, wurde am 11. Juli ein Mann von Chemnitz nach Marokko abgeschoben. To the Zeit article.

News from the Borders 18.07.2024

  • Nachdem Großbritannien das Ruanda-Modell begraben hat, erläutert Judith Kohlenberger im Spiegel, warum man auch in Berlin verstehen sollte, dass das Modell gescheitert ist. Zum Beitrag.

  • Französische Sportlerinnen dürfen bei den Olympischen Spielen im eigenen Land nicht mit Kopftuch antreten. Warum das gegen internationales Recht und die Regeln des Internationalen Olympischen Komitees verstößt, erklärt Amnesty International. Hier geht’s zur Meldung.

News from the Borders 17.07.2024

  • Der Vizepräsident der Kommission nimmt morgen an einem libyschen Migrationsforum teil, um Unterstützung für die Migrationszusammenarbeit zu signalisieren. In Libyen werden schwerste Menschenrechtsverbrechen gegen Schutzsuchende begangen und die Kommission weiß das. To the article. Mehr zu den Menschenrechtsverbrechen in Libyen (en).

  • Expert:innen kritisieren nach der verhinderten Abschiebung einer Frau-Leben-Freiheit-Aktivistin das Flughafenasylverfahren. The taz reports.

  • Die geplanten Haushaltskürzungen für 2025 setzen Hilfsorganisationen in Kriegs- und Krisengebieten extrem unter Druck. Zum Beispiel in Syrien, wo 12 Millionen Menschen auf humanitäre Hilfe angewiesen sind. Mehr dazu in der Tagesschau.

News from the Borders 16.07.2024

  • In eigener Sache: Ich bin seit heute Delegationsleiter der deutschen Grünen im Europaparlament. Ich will die Verbindung zwischen deutscher und europäischer Politik stärken und wieder mehr Menschen für rechtsstaatliche Lösungen, Zusammenhalt und die Achtung der Menschenwürde in ganz Europa begeistern. Zu meinem Insta-Post geht’s hier. Und hier zur dpa-Meldung.

  • Nochmal gute Nachrichten: Das Innenministerium hat das rechtsextremistische Magazin Compact verboten und eine Razzia bei dessen Publizisten Jürgen Elsässer durchgeführt. Mehr dazu beim Tagesspiegel.

  • Das finnische Parlament hat einem umstrittenen Gesetz zugestimmt, das Pushbacks an der Grenze zu Russland legalisiert. Das ist weder mit grundlegenden Menschenrechten noch mit EU-Recht vereinbar. The SZ reports.

  • Obwohl ihnen dort die Hölle droht, fliehen scheinbar mehr Menschen nach Libyen – oft, um von dort aus nach Europa zu gelangen. Ändern wird sich das nur, wenn wir legale Fluchtwege schaffen und aufhören, Deals mit Milizen zu machen. Zum DW-Bericht.

News from the Borders 15.07.2024

  • Die Abschiebung von Robert, einem Chemnitzer Grünen, nach Serbien wurde vorerst gestoppt. Dass es überhaupt so weit kommen konnte, ist Wahnsinn, schließlich lebt er seit 30 Jahren in Deutschland. Mehr zu dem Fall erfahrt ihr hier.

  • Am Wochenende wurden 109 Menschen, darunter 21 Kinder, treibend in der Ägäis gefunden. Viele wurden von maskierten Männern auf griechischen Inseln entführt, ausgeraubt, geschlagen und auf dem Meer zurückgelassen. Zum Tweet von Aegean Boat Report (eng).

News from the Borders 12.07.2024

  • Der Hamburger Schüler Joel sollte nach Ghana abgeschoben werden, seine Mitschüler:innen machten dagegen mobil und sammelten über 100.000 Unterschriften. Jetzt hat die Härtefallkommission entschieden, dass er bleiben kann. Mehr dazu beim Spiegel.

  • Das Grölen rechtsextremistischer Parolen zum Lied “L’amour toujours” hat in den letzten Monaten laut RND zu mehr als 360 Polizeieinsätzen geführt. The Tagesschau reports.

  • ProAsyl berichtet, dass eine 17-jährige kurdische Schülerin und ihre Großmutter heute trotz Eilantrag in den Iran abgeschoben werden sollen. Zum Tweet von ProAsyl.

News from the Borders 11.07.2024

  • Die AfD hat eine eigene Fraktion im Europäischen Parlament gebildet – eine rechtsextreme Resterampe bestehend aus Neonazis, Antisemit:innen und Verschwörungstheoretiker:innen. Meine Meinung dazu hier.

  • In Spanien gibt es eine Regierungskrise, weil die rechtsextreme Vox-Partei keine unbegleiteten Minderjährigen von den Kanaren auf dem Festland aufnehmen will. The taz reports.

  • Geflüchtete in Brandenburg finden inzwischen schneller einen Arbeitsplatz. Grund ist offenbar der beschlossene Jobturbo der Bundesregierung. Zum RBB-Artikel.

News from the Borders 10.07.2024

  • Die griechische Küstenwache hat gestern 27 Menschen, die auf der Insel Chios angekommen sind, illegal zurückgewiesen. Acht Menschen sind ertrunken. Zum Tweet von Aegean Boat Report.

  • Bei einem Bootsunglück vor der Küste Mauretaniens sind mindestens 89 Menschen gestorben. Die sogenannte Westatlantikroute zu den Kanaren gilt als eine der tödlichsten der Welt. Die Süddeutsche Zeitung berichtet.

  • In einem Brief fordern mehr als 90 NGOs die EU und ihre Mitgliedstaaten dazu auf, das Recht auf Asyl in Europa zu schützen, anstatt ihre Verantwortung in Drittstaaten auszulagern. Zum Brief.

News from the Borders 09.07.2024

  • In einem Interview mit dem Tagesspiegel habe ich mehr Mut zur Menschlichkeit gefordert. Wir Grüne haben überzeugende Antworten, wir dürfen aber keine Angst davor haben, sie auch mal gegen Mehrheiten zu vertreten und populär zu machen. Zum Interview (Paywall). Hier eine Zusammenfassung.

  • Ein Richter am Verwaltungsgericht Gera soll in Studentenverbindungsforen rassistische und homophobe Kommentare getätigt haben. Das Gericht entschied nun, dass der Richter künftig nicht mehr für Asylverfahren zuständig sein soll. The Tagesschau reports.

  • Im gemeinsamen Einsatz haben zwei die Sea Eye 4 und die Nadir rund 100 Menschen aus Seenot gerettet. Mehr dazu in der taz.

News from the Borders 08.07.2024

  • Der neue britische Premier Keir Starmer hat angekündigt, das Asyl-Abkommen mit Ruanda zu beenden. Der Spiegel reports.

  • Die Zahl der Asylanträge sinkt. Deutschland verzeichnete im ersten Halbjahr 2024 ein Minus von 19,1 % gegenüber dem Vorjahr. Insgesamt sind das 121.416 Erstanträge. Manche Politiker führen das auf die Grenzkontrollen zurück und wollen sie deswegen behalten. Der Experte Marcus Engler hält das hingegen für “Symbolpolitik” und glaubt nicht, dass die Grenzkontrollen der Hauptgrund für den Rückgang sind. Zum Artikel in der Tagesschau. ZDF heute zu den Grenzkontrollen.

News from the Borders 05.07.2024

  • Bis zu 1.000 gefährdete Personen aus Afghanistan wollte die Bundesregierung jeden Monat seit Ende 2022 aufnehmen. Stattdessen werden nun auf Druck des Innenministeriums reihenweise Zusagen zurückgenommen. The Tagesschau reports.

  • Die konservativen Tories haben ihren Wahlkampf komplett auf „Stop The Boats“ und Abschiebungen nach Ruanda ausgerichtet und sind damit kläglich untergegangen. Zoe Gardner hat bereits im Februar drei Schritte aufgeschrieben, mit denen Labour wieder etwas Humanität herstellen könnte. Ihr Beitrag im Guardian.

  • Die UN-Organisationen UNHCR und IOM haben in den vergangenen drei Jahren mit 31.500 Geflüchteten darüber gesprochen, wie sie auf der Flucht zum Mittelmeer erlebt haben. Der Bericht zeigt den extremen Horror, den Menschen auf der Flucht erleben. Mehr dazu in der taz. Hier geht es zum Bericht (eng.).

News from the Borders 04.07.2024

  • Der strikte Kurs der EU gegen den Kriegsverbrecher Baschar al-Assad bröckelt. Vor allem, weil rechte Regierungen darauf drängen, Menschen in sein totalitäres Regime abzuschieben. Mehr dazu in der taz.

  • Die Entwicklungsorganisation GIZ zieht sich vollständig aus Afghanistan zurück. Mehr dazu im Spiegel.

News from the Borders 03.07.2024

  • Die Schutzquote für Afghanen ist bundesweit sehr hoch – nur in Eisenhüttenstadt nicht. Woran das liegt, kann das Bamf nicht erklären. To the taz article.

  • Asylverfahren in Deutschland werden schneller – zumindest ein wenig, wie neue Zahlen zeigen. The SZ reports.

  • Im türkischen Kayseri kam es zu pogromartigen Ausschreitungen, bei denen ein Mob Geschäfte von Syrer:innen anzündete. Auf Videos ist zu sehen, wie Menschen durch die Straßen zogen und Sprechchöre wie „Syrer raus“ riefen. ZDF heute reports.

News from the Borders 02.07.2024

  • Bei der Bezahlkarte tritt nun genau das ein, wovor wir gewarnt haben. Die Behörden werden stärker belastet und Geflüchtete ausgeschlossen, weil sie keine Fahrkarten mehr zu ihren Sprachkursen kaufen können oder Kinder die Mitgliedsbeiträge von Sportvereinen nicht bezahlen können, weil die keine Lesegeräte haben. Wochenmärkte, kleinere Lebensmittelläden oder auch Sozialkaufhäuser akzeptieren die Karte meist nicht. T-Online reports.

  • EU-Kommissionspräsidentin von der Leyen hat in Kairo neue EU-Finanzhilfen in Höhe von bis zu einer Milliarde Euro für Ägypten besiegelt. Im Gegenzug wird erwartet, dass Diktator al-Sisi Menschen auf der Flucht in die EU aufhält. The Tagesschau reports.

  • Das Bamf verweigert dem türkischen Staatsbürger B. Asyl, obwohl er seine Verfolgung belegen kann und ihm in der Türkei Knast droht. Mehr dazu in der taz.

News from the Borders 01.07.2024

  • Die SOS Humanity nahm am Sonntag 186 zuvor von der italienischen Küstenwache gerettete Menschen an Bord ihres Schiffs. Zudem sei die Leiche einer verstorbenen Person an die Crew der Humanity 1 übergeben worden, teilten die Seenotretter mit. Read more in the SZ.

  • Die FDP hält nicht viel von Bewegungsfreiheit und Freizügigkeit im Schengenraum und fordert, die Kontrollen an der deutschen Grenze zu verlängern. Der Spiegel reports.

  • Ungarn übernimmt heute die Ratspräsidentschaft der EU und “Info Migrants” hat zusammengefasst, was das für Geflüchtete und Migrant:innen bedeutet. Zum Beitrag (eng.).

News from the Borders 28.06.2024

  • Das Zivilgericht in Crotone hat entschieden, dass es nicht rechtens war die Humanity 1 im März festzusetzen. Mehr dazu hier.

  • Frontexbeamte vertuschen Menschenrechtsverletzungen an der Albanisch-Griechischen Grenze und melden diese nicht weiter. BIRN berichtet (eng.).

  • In Mauretanien sammeln sich Geflüchtete aus ganz Afrika. Spanien und die EU bezahlen das Land dafür, Menschen mit dem Ziel Kanaren aufzuhalten. Die taz war vor Ort.

News from the Borders 27.06.2024

  • Ich war bei “Ronzheimer” im Podcast zu Gast und habe dort erklärt, warum es in den nächsten Jahren keine Abschiebungen nach Afghanistan geben wird und warum man keine Deals mit den Taliban machen sollte. Zur Episode (46 Min.).

  • In der Debatte um Migration gehe es nur noch um Abschottung, bilanziert die Migrationsbeauftragte Reem Alabali-Radovan (SPD). Die Ampel müsse mehr über ihre Erfolge sprechen – etwa bei den Einbürgerungen. Das Interview in der taz.

News from the Borders 26.06.2024

  • Ich war zu Gast beim “Die da oben” Podcast und habe darüber gesprochen, was für Politik ich persönlich machen würde, wenn meine Partei die absolute Mehrheit hätte. Zum Gespräch.

  • Gestern haben die EU-Regierungen einstimmig die Verlängerung des EU-weiten Schutzes für ukrainische Geflüchtete beschlossen. Die Unionsleute positionieren sich mit ihrer Forderung nach Abschiebungen also sogar rechts von Orban und Meloni. Populismus pur. Putin dankt euch, CSU. Deutschlandfunk reports.

  • Trotz Pushbacks und Menschenrechtsverletzungen unterzeichnete Frontex ein Abkommen mit Serbien. The Standard reports.

News from the Borders 25.06.2024

  • Die Schauspielerin Sandra Hüller übernimmt die Patenschaft für das Bündnisschiff Sea-Eye 5, für das noch Spenden gesammelt werden. Zur Sea Eye Homepage.

  • Während in Deutschland über Abschiebungen nach Afghanistan gesprochen wird, warten dort noch ehemalige Ortskräfte und ihre Familien auf ihre Ausreise. Migazin reports.

  • Bei den Vorwürfen gegen die griechische Küstenwache geht es nicht um unterlassene Hilfeleistung, sondern um aktives Töten. Das muss strafrechtliche und politische Konsequenzen haben, habe ich “ZDF heute” gesagt. Zum Beitrag.

News from the Borders 24.06.2024

  • Nachdem Geflüchtete rhetorisch und praktisch jahrelang ausgegrenzt und ihr Zugang zur Arbeit behindert wurde, fordert die CSU im Bundestag nun ukrainische Kriegsflüchtlinge ins Kriegsgebiet zu schicken, wenn sie keine Arbeit haben. Wie sie sabbernd zum rechten Rand laufen, ist ekelhaft. Time Online reports.

  • Die belarussische Oppositionsführerin Tichanowskaja hat Polen dazu aufgerufen, die Grenzübergänge zum Nachbarland nicht zu schließen. Sie dürften nicht hinter einem neuen Eisernen Vorhang zurückgelassen werden. Zuvor hatte der polnische Außenminister Sikorski erklärt, man erwäge die Schließung der verbleibenden Grenzübergänge zu Belarus, um Migration einzudämmen. Tichanowskaja auf X.

  • Der Konstanzer Völkerrechts-Professor Daniel Thym hält Abschiebungen von schwerkriminellen Straftätern und islamistischen Gefährdern nach Afghanistan für rechtlich kaum durchsetzbar. Zum Interview in der Augsburger Allgemeine.

News from the Borders 21.06.2024

  • Die Abschiebung von Gefährdern nach Syrien untergräbt das Prinzip Gerechtigkeit, meint Anas Al-Rawi in der taz. To the article.

  • Zwei Jahre nach dem Massaker an Flüchtenden an der spanisch-marokanischen Grenze bei Melilla sammelte Border Forensics neue Beweise für die Verantwortung der marokkanischen und spanischen Behörden.

  • Gilda Sahebi erklärt, dass sich in Deutschland ein falsches Meisternarrativ durchgesetzt habe, laut dem “Ausländer” für strukturelle Probleme verantwortlich seien und man deswegen mit Begrenzung und Ausweisung reagieren müsse. Ihr Text in der taz.

  • BBC hat mit einem ehemaligen griechischen Küstenwache-Offizier gesprochen, der sagt, der Umgang mit Flüchtenden sei “eindeutig illegal”. The Guardian berichtet.

Weltflüchtlingstag 2024

  • Heute trifft sich Olaf Scholz mit den Ministerpräsident:innen der Länder und spricht über den Plan, Asylverfahren in Dritt- und Transitstaaten auszulagern. Grundlage für das Gespräch ist ein als “Verschlusssache” eingestuftes Dokument, das vor allem aus Kritik und Ablehnung der Pläne besteht. Frag den Staat hat das Dokument veröffentlicht.

  • In an open letter fordern über 300 Organisationen, Menschen zu schützen, statt Asylverfahren auszulagern.

  • Die Journalistin Franziska Grillmeier spricht  über das Schicksal von Frauen, die vor Krieg, Gewalt, Hunger und Katastrophen fliehen, um dann zu erfahren, dass noch andere Höllen auf sie warten. Zum Interview in der Frankfurter Rundschau.

News from the Borders 19.06.2024

  • Der BBC hat eine 90 minütige Reportage zu ihrer Recherche veröffentlicht, laut der die griechische Küstenwache einfach Menschen ins offene Meer wirft, um sie dort ertrinken zu lassen. Zum Film.

  • Der EuGH entschied, dass Deutschland Flüchtlinge nicht als solche anerkennen muss, wenn sie bereits in einem anderen EU-Land als Flüchtlinge anerkannt sind. ZDF Heute berichtet.

  • Bei “der Tag” vom Deutschlandfunk wird erklärt, warum die Taliban sich wünschen, dass Deutschland dorthin abschiebt. Zum Beitrag.

News from the Borders 18.06.2024

  • Grünen-Abgeordnete appellieren an die Innenminister von Bund und Ländern, Jesid:innen nicht mehr abzuschieben. Das Thema wird bei der Innenministerkonferenz diskutiert. Die Rheinische Post berichtet.

  • Das Bundesinnenministerium hat Sachverständige befragt, inwiefern Asylverfahren in Drittstaaten wie Ruanda ausgelagert werden können. Die meisten haben daran große Zweifel an der Umsetzbarkeit und sehen die Auslagerung von Asylverfahren kritisch. More on this in the Tagesschau.

News from the Borders 17.06.2024

  • Die Crew der Nadir versuchte bei einem Seenotrettungsfall 61 Menschen aus einem überfüllten Boot zu retten, dessen Motor defekt war. Für 10 Menschen kam die Rettung zu spät. Zum Kanal von RESQSHIP auf X.

  • Politiker aus CDU, CSU und FDP fordern die Leistungen für ukrainische Geflüchtete zu kürzen. Im Tagesspiegel erklärt u.a der grüne Bundestagsabgeordnete Andreas Audretsch warum das falsch wäre. Der Tagesspiegel berichtet.

News from the Borders 14.06.2024

  • Ein Jahr nach der Schiffskatastrophe von Pylos mit mehr als 600 Toten fordern Überlebende Aufklärung und wollen Frontex verklagen. Zur Frankfurter Rundschau.

  • Weil Ungarn angeordnete Änderungen am Asylsystem nicht umgesetzt hat, muss es 200 Millionen Euro und ein Zwangsgeld für jeden weiteren Tag Verzug bezahlen. The Standard reports.

  • Die EU-Kommission hat am Mittwoch den Plänen eine Absage erteilt, irreguläre Migranten in sichere Drittstaaten zu bringen, zu denen sie keinerlei Verbindung aufweisen. Zum FAZ-Artikel.

News from the Borders 13.06.2024

  • Die Zahl der Menschen auf der Flucht ist auf 117,3 Millionen gestiegen und liegt somit um knapp neun Millionen höher als im vergangenen Jahr. Die meisten, 68 Millionen, sind Binnenvertriebene. Nur ein sehr geringer Teil flüchtet in die EU. Zum Bericht des UNHCR. Zur Zusammenfassung vom ZDF.

  • Alleine im Sudan gibt es über zehn Millionen Binnenflüchtlinge. Davon wurden 7,26 Millionen seit dem Ausbruch des Krieges zwischen Armee und RSF-Milizen aus ihren Häusern vergeben. Der Spiegel reports.

  • Der EuGH stärkt den Flüchtlingsschutz für Mädchen. Wenn diese in der EU “identitätsbildend” aufgewachsen seien und eine gleichberechtigte Lebensweise für Frauen in ihren Heimatländern gefährdet sei – dann müsse das von Asylbehörden berücksichtigt werden. The Tagesschau reports.

News from the Borders 12.06.2024

  • Innenministerin Nancy Faeser besucht Bosnien-Herzegowina. Die zentralen Themen sind weder die EU-Integration noch die Gefahr durch serbisch-nationaistische Separatisten – nein, es geht um Grenzschutz und die Bekämpfung irregulärer Migration nach Deutschland. Zum Tagesspiegel-Artikel.

  • Der FDP-Fraktionsvorsitzende Philipp Dürr stellt den subsidiären Schutz grundsätzlich in Frage – der Schutzstatus, denn die meisten Asylsuchenden in Deutschland erhalten. Deutschlandfunk reports.

  • Der Schweizer Nationalrat hat entschieden, dass abgewiesene Asylsuchende aus Eritrea über einen Drittstaat in ihr Herkunftsland zurückgebracht werden. Dabei handelt es sich um eine der schlimmsten Diktaturen der Welt. Kommentar in der woz.

News from the Borders 11.06.2024

  • Für viele Projekte in der Flüchtlingsarbeit sind die Wahlergebnisse der AfD bedrohlich – das gilt vor allem im Osten. The taz reports.

  • Refugee Support Aegean (RSA) hat einen übersichtlichen Bericht zur Abschiebungshaft für Geflüchtete in Griechenland für das Jahr 2023 veröffentlicht. Da Abschiebungen meist gar nicht durchgeführt werden können, handelt es sich oft um willkürliche Freiheitsberaubung. To the report.

News from the Borders 10.06.2024

  • Bei der Europawahl triumphieren in vielen Ländern rechtspopulistische Parteien. Anders in Schweden, Dänemark und Finnland: Dort gewinnen Grüne und Linke Stimmen dazu. The Tagesschau reports.

  • Nach Angaben des Bundesinnenministeriums gab es von Januar bis April rund 6.300 Abschiebungen – ein Drittel mehr als im Vorjahreszeitraum. Deutschlandfunk reports.

  • Ein weiterer Leichnam wurde am Samstag vor der libyschen Küste von Sea-Watch gesichtet – einen Tag nachdem ein Rettungsschiff von Ärzte ohne Grenzen (MSF) die Leichen von elf Menschen im selben Gebiet geborgen hatte. Mehr dazu bei Reuters.

News from the Borders 07.06.2024

  • Laut Nachwahlbefragungen wurde das Bündnis aus Sozialdemokraten und Grünen stärkste Kraft in den Niederlanden, allerdings dicht gefolgt von der rassistischen Partei des Rechtspopulisten Geert Wilders. The FAZ reports.

  • Kurz vor den Europawahlen in Italien besuchte Giorgia Meloni Albanien, um dort Wahlkampf zu machen. Künftig sollen tausende Geflüchtete statt nach Italien dorthin gebracht werden. The Süddeutsche Zeitung reports.

  • Spanische Einsatzkräfte haben innerhalb weniger Stunden Hunderte Menschen gerettet, die vor den Kanarischen Inseln in Seenot geraten waren. Während der Fahrt starben mehrere Personen. Zur Frankfurter Rundschau.

  • Saudi Arabien soll weiterhin an der Grenze zum Jemen mit scharfen Waffen auf Menschen schießen, die versuchen, die Grenze zu überqueren. Human Rights Watch (HRW) berichtete bereits vor 10 Monaten dazu und sprach von möglichen Verbrechen gegen die Menschlichkeit. Aktueller Bericht. Zum HRW-Bericht.

News from the Borders 05.06.2024

  • Die taz berichtet über die Forderungen, wieder nach Afghanistan abzuschieben und zitiert mich mit der Aussage, dass wir in einem Rechtsstaat leben und nicht mit Grausamkeit, Entwürdigung oder Abschiebung in den Tod bestrafen. To the article.

  • Auch Sophie Scheytt von Amnesty International erklärt, dass die Trauer über den Tod des Polizisten in Mannheim nicht politisch ausgenutzt werden darf für rassistische Hetze und um Menschen nach Afghanistan abzuschieben. Zum Interview mit Radio eins.

  • Ein breites Bündnis fordert, dass die IMK einen sofortigen Abschiebestopp sowohl für Geflüchtete aus dem Iran als auch für Jesid*innen aus dem Irak erlässt. Hier findet ihr den Appell.

News from the Borders 04.06.2024

  • Ein Bündnis aus zivilgesellschaftlichen Organisationen hat mit einem zwölf Meter langen Rotstift in Berlin gegen geplante Einsparungen bei Entwicklungspolitik und humanitärer Hilfe protestiert. The SZ reports.

  • Mehrere Menschenrechtsaktivist:innen waren im bosnischen Lipa – in einem Anhaltezentrum an der EU-Außengrenze zu Kroatien. ORF hat sie begleitet.

News from the Borders 03.06.2024 

  • In den vergangenen Jahren wurden Geflüchtete vermehrt als “hybride Gefahr” oder “Waffe von Autokraten” bezeichnet. Dabei hilft die EU gerade Autokraten, weil sie diese für die Abschottung braucht. taz reports.  

  • Die Sea Eye 4 hat gestern den Hafen von Genua erreicht und 51 Menschen in Sicherheit gebracht. Die Bilanz: Eine Mission, 2 Einsätze, 103 Gerettete und zwei weit entfernte Häfen, die dem Schiff zugewiesen wurden, um die Crew und die Geretteten zu schikanieren. 

News from the Borders 31.05.2024

News from the Borders 30.05.2024 

News from the Borders 29.05.2024

  • Führende Migrationsexpertinnen und -experten halten das neue Gemeinsame Europäische Asylsystem hinsichtlich von Rechtsstaatlichkeit, Menschenrechten und Kindeswohl für problematisch. BR berichtet.

News from the Borders 28.05.2024 

  • The Humanity 1 hat bei zwei Einsätzen im Mittelmeer insgesamt 100 Menschen aus Seenot gerettet. Die Sea Eye 4 hat am Wochenende den Hafen von Ravenna erreicht. 52 Personen gingen von Bord – darunter viele aus Syrien. 

  • At Gespräch mit ntv habe ich erklärt, dass kein Drittstaat der EU die Herausforderungen in der Flüchtlingspolitik abnehmen kann und wir uns nicht von Autokraten erpressbar machen sollten. 

  • Während das Leid von Menschen auf der Flucht an der polnischen EU-Außengrenze anhält, will die Regierung Milliarden € in den “Grenzschutz” investieren. Dazu habe ich eine kurze Übersicht on my homepage verfasst.

News from the Borders 27.05.2024

  • At Gespräch mit dem Stern habe ich gesagt: „Europa muss sich dringend von der Illusion verabschieden, dass irgendein anderes Land auf der Welt dazu bereit ist, unsere Probleme in der Migrationspolitik zu lösen – egal, ob es sich dabei um Ruanda oder Albanien handelt.”

  • Der mutmaßliche Chef einer Schleuserbande hat der NRW-CDU fast 50.000 Euro gespendet. Hauptbegünstigter war Innenminister Herbert Reul. taz reports.  

News from the Borders 24.05.2024 

Mehr dazu bei Zeit Online https://www.zeit.de/news/2024-05/23/herrmann-kein-buergergeld-fuer-fahnenfluechtige-ukrainer 

  • Die meisten Abschiebungen im ersten Quartal gingen nach Georgien, Nordmazedonien und Albanien. Aber auch Menschen aus dem Irak – darunter Jesid:innen – sind besonders betroffen. taz reports.

News from the Borders 23.05.2024 

  • Das neue Standing Corps von Frontex soll bis 2027 auf 10.000 Mitarbeiter vergrößert werden. Nun gibt es neue Pushback-Vorwürfe, interne Untersuchungen und auch Kritik aus den Mitgliedstaaten. Mehr dazu bei tagesschau.de und heute Abend bei Reschke Fernsehen

  • Im August 2022 erschoss die Polizei den Geflüchteten Mouhamed Dramé. Vor Gericht offenbart sich in den ersten Prozesstagen ein Behördenversagen. taz reports  

News from the Borders 22.05.2024

  • At Gespräch mit dem Deutschlandfunk habe ich gesagt, dass mit der Finanzierung von Sicherheitskräften in Nordafrika der Tod von Menschen in Kauf genommen wird. Das ist moralisch verwahrlost, aber eben die Politik, die man unterstützt, wenn Menschen verschleppt und in der Wüste ausgesetzt werden. 

  • Auf einer Militärstation, neben dem 2000 Einwohner:innen zählenden Dorf Gjader in Albanien, soll in den kommenden Monaten ein von Italien betriebenes Lager für Geflüchtete errichtet werden. The Frankfurter Rundschau was on site.

  • Während die Bundesregierung versucht, Menschen aus dem Ausland abzuwerben, um dem Fachkräftemangel entgegenzuwirken, werden vor allem in Bayern viele Menschen abgeschoben, die einen Job haben. BR berichtet.

News from the Borders 21.05.2024 

  • Nach dem Schiffbruch von Pylos mit hunderten Toten, wurden neun Überlebende angeklagt, obwohl das Boot sank, als eine griechische Spezialeinheit es aus ihrem Verantwortungsbereich schleppen wollte, statt die Menschen zu retten. Jetzt sind die neun Angeklagten freigesprochen worden. Hintergründe dazu in der woz.  

  • Nach der Machtübernahme der Taliban versprach die Bundesregierung, Schutzbedürftige herzuholen, legte ihnen aber Steine in den Weg. Nun steigt die Zahlen der Zusagen. taz reports.

News from the Borders 17.05.2024

  • Die CDU will alle Geflüchteten nach Ruanda abschieben und damit das Asylrecht in Europa abschaffen. Ruanda hat jetzt zum wiederholten Male Human Rights Watch die Einreise verweigert, um die Menschenrechtslage im Land zu untersuchen. Der Diktatur werden schwere Menschenrechtsverletzungen vorgeworfen. Zur Pressemitteilung von HRW.

  • Die Crew der Humanity 1 hat gestern 28 Menschen aus Seenot gerettet. Um die Seenotrettung zu behindern, haben die italienischen Behörden dem Schiff den Hafen Marina di Carrara im Norden Italiens zugewiesen. Mehr dazu bei SOS Humanity auf X.

  • Der Rassist Geert Wilders wird Teil der niederländischen Regierungskoalition und kündigt die „strengste Asylpolitik aller Zeiten“ an. Time Online reports.

News from the Borders 16.05.2024

  • Jens Spahn hat in Ruanda mit dem Diktator Paul Kagame gesprochen und fordert jetzt, dass Geflüchtete aus Deutschland dorthin gebracht werden, weil er das individuelle Recht auf Asyl in Deutschland abschaffen will. Der Plan ist nicht mit EU-Recht vereinbar, Ruanda ist kein sicherer Drittstaat und in UK können wir gerade beobachten, wie das Konzept scheitert. Es ist blanker Rechtspopulismus. t-online reports.

News from the Borders 15.05.2024

  • Endlich! Gestern ist die Sea Eye 4 aus dem Hafen von Tarent wieder in See gestochen. Zuvor wurde das Schiff 60 Tage von den italienischen Behörden festgesetzt. Mehr Infos auf der Homepage von Sea Eye.

  • In Niedersachsen wurde eine russische Familie nach Spanien abgeschoben, obwohl sie in Bienenbüttel Kirchenasyl hatte. Vater und Sohn wollten ihrer Einberufung in die russische Armee und den Ukraine-Krieg entgehen. Die Grüne Fraktion in Niedersachsen ist erschüttert und kritisiert das Vorgehen. NDR berichtet. Zum Statement der Grünen Fraktion.

  • Die EU-Länder besiegelten gestern endgültig die Reform zum Gemeinsamen Europäischen Asylsystem (GEAS). Pro Asyl fasst konkrete Auswirkungen in dieser Broschüre zusammen.

News from the Borders 14.05.2024

  • Versprochen hatte er mehr Rechtsstaatlichkeit und Menschenrechte, jetzt will Polens Ministerpräsident Tusk einen stärkeren Grenzzaun zwischen Polen und Belarus – finanziert mit EU-Geldern. Dort sitzen viele Asylsuchende auf dem Weg nach Europa fest und werden immer wieder gewaltsam zurückgewiesen. Zum Artikel bei Euronews. Zur Lage an der polnisch-belarussischen Grenze.

News from the Borders 13.05.2024

  • Die Menschenrechtsorganisation Human Rights Watch wirft den paramilitärischen Rapid Support Forces ethnische Säuberungen in der sudanesischen Region West-Darfur vor und kritisiert die weltweite Untätigkeit als unentschuldbar. The Spiegel reports. Zum Bericht von Human Rights Watch.

  • Rund 110.000 Menschen sind laut den Vereinten Nationen aus Rafah im Süden des Gazastreifens geflohen, seit die israelische Armee dort vorrückt. The Tagesschau reports.

  • Ein Geflüchteter aus Marokko ist in Bayern von einem Reisebus auf die Autobahn 99 gefallen. Der Mann hatte sich laut Polizei mit einem Bekannten unter dem Bus versteckt und festgeklammert, der in Richtung Stuttgart unterwegs war. The Süddeutsche Zeitung reports.

News from the Borders 08.05.2024

  • Die Brandenburger Grünen-Fraktion hat ein Gutachten veröffentlicht, aus dem hervorgeht, dass es sich bei den Grenzkontrollen vor allem um politisch motivierte Symbolpolitik handelt. taz reports. Das Gutachten can be found here.

  • Der Politologe Volker Heins analysiert, dass die CDU das Asylrecht quasi abschaffen wolle und damit “eindeutig rechts von Meloni in Italien” stehe. Zum Interview in der FR.

News from the Borders 07.05.2024

  • Die Frankfurter Rundschau zeigt auf, wie Konservative sich mit Asylverfahren in Drittstaaten vor Schutzsuchenden abschotten wollen. To the article.

  • Sea Watch dokumentierte zwischen Januar und März, wie knapp 500 Personen Opfer von Pullbacks durch die libysche Küstenwache wurden. To the report.

  • Der neue IOM-Bericht zur Migration weltweit kommt zu dem Schluss, dass es immer weniger legale Migrationsmöglichkeiten gibt, dafür aber immer mehr Menschen auf der Flucht sind und dass Rücküberweisungen eine immer größere Rolle spielen.

News from the Borders 06.05.2024

  • Über 700 Pfarrer:innen & Theolog:innen nennen den aktuellen Entwurf zum Grundsatzprogramm der CDU unchristlich, weil er sich gegen Geflüchtete richtet. Zum Aufruf.

  • Weltspiegel berichtet über den Migrationsdeal zwischen Italien und Albanien und warum Menschenrechtler:innen Schlimmes erwarten. Zum Beitrag (10 Min).

  • Sicherheitskräfte haben Geflüchtetenlager in Tunis geräumt. Die Betroffenen werden oft ohne Wasser an der Grenze in einem Wüstengebiet ausgesetzt. The taz reports.

News from the Borders 03.05.2024

  • Zum dritten Mal in Folge belegt Griechenland den letzten Platz aller EU-Staaten in der Rangliste der Pressefreiheit und liegt sogar hinter Katar. Einer der Gründe ist die systematische Verhinderung von Berichterstattung an den Außengrenzen und in den geschlossenen Lagern. Die Rangliste von Reporter ohne Grenzen.

News from the Borders 02.05.2024

  • Der 25-jährige Abdelhamid El Khadiri arbeitet in einem Braunschweiger Krankenhaus. Obwohl Fachkräfte händeringend gesucht werden, soll er nach Marokko abgeschoben werden. NDR berichtet.

  • Die EU-Kommission will dem Libanon Finanzhilfe in Milliardenhöhe geben, wenn die Machthaber syrische Geflüchtete aufhalten. Bei DW kritisiere ich das als “unwürdige Geldkofferpolitik”. To the article.

News from the Borders 30.04.2024

  • The European Council has restricted the issuing of visas for people from Ethiopia because the country is not cooperative enough on migration issues. To the press release.

  • More than 51,000 refugee children and young people are missing in Europe, having disappeared during the long registration periods. They are particularly at risk of falling victim to criminal organizations or sexual abuse. Read more at Zeit Online.

News from the Borders 29.04.2024

  • Many people seeking protection are now fleeing to Ireland instead of the UK to avoid being deported to Rwanda. Although an Irish court recently ruled that the UK is no longer safe for refugees, Ireland now wants to change its laws so that people can be deported there. To the article.

  • The Ryanair boss has announced that he would "gladly" make his fleet of aircraft available for deportations to Rwanda. Focus Online reports.

  • The trial against nine right-wing extremists began today at Stuttgart Higher Regional Court. They wanted to overthrow the federal government and accept many deaths to do so. After the overthrow, AfD politicians, among others, were to occupy important offices. Read more in the SZ.

News from the Borders 26.04.2024

  • Human rights organizations have accused ex-Frontex boss Leggeri of possible crimes against humanity. The reason: his role in pushbacks of people seeking protection. Incidentally, Leggeri wants to enter the EU Parliament for the far-right French party Rassemblement National. Der Spiegel reports.

  • Because of the upcoming Olympic Games, the police in Paris are driving people living on the streets – including many refugees – further and further out of the city. To the Euronews article.

News from the Borders 25.04.2024

  • Although the UK's planned asylum pact with Rwanda is inhumane and has been heavily criticized internationally, the FDP now wants to examine similar models for Germany. To the SZ article.

  • The European Parliament has passed a reform of the Schengen Borders Code that allows member states to temporarily introduce internal border controls for up to three years in exceptional situations. You can find more detailed information here.

News from the Borders 24.04.2024

  • Homayoun Sabetara's appeal proceedings were postponed until September because the court in Thessaloniki was unable to find the only witness. Homayoun will therefore have to wait five more months in prison, even though he has been imprisoned since 2021 and also suffers from cancer. To the tweet from Free Homayoun.

  • The British Parliament has decided to deport all asylum seekers who enter the UK "illegally" to Rwanda without examining their asylum application. DW reports.

News from the Borders 22.04.2024

  • The EU Commission is working on a new migration agreement with Lebanon so that fewer Syrian refugees from there make their way to the EU. The Cypriot president even called for certain areas in war-torn Syria to be declared safe. Der Spiegel reports.

  • The planned introduction of restrictive payment cards for refugees will have a negative impact on their integration, warns migration researcher Brücker. To the article.

  • The appeal trial against Homayoun Sabetara began today in Thessaloniki. Because he drove a car with several people across the Turkish-Greek border while fleeing Iran, Homayoun has been in prison for "people smuggling" since 2021, although he only wanted to apply for asylum himself and did not receive any money for the transportation. To the website „Free Homayoun“.

News from the Borders 19.04.2024

  • After more than five years, the court in Trapani has dropped the charges against the sea rescue crew of the Iuventa. This marks the end of years of unlawful criminalization of sea rescuers. taz reports.

  • The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that the conditions in the Greek „hotspot “camps of Chios, Kos and Samos constitute inhuman or degrading treatment for three applicants. The ruling is also important with regard to the CEAS reform: it underlines the inalienability of human rights. To the tweet from Equal Rights Beyond Borders.

  • After almost three years of legal proceedings, Berlin's Mitte District Court ruled that a police officer's question as to where the plaintiff "actually" came from constituted direct discrimination on the basis of ethnic origin and a racist ascription. This is the first time that the Berlin police have been convicted under the state anti-discrimination law. To the press release of the German Anti-Discrimination Association.

News from the Borders 15.04.2024

  • Journalist Lujain Alsedeg had to flee Khartoum a year ago and writes about her experiences over the past few years. To the taz.

  • Due to increased arrivals of Syrian asylum seekers, Cyprus has temporarily suspended the processing of asylum applications from Syrians. Syrians must remain in the overcrowded local registration camps until further notice. The SZ reports.

  • Pro Asyl uses a fictitious example to illustrate what the agreed reform of the common European asylum system could mean for refugees. To the tweet.

News from the Borders 12.04.2024

  • As Greens in the European Parliament, we voted against the EU asylum pact today. The new CEAS will create more bureaucracy, a patchwork asylum system and more suffering. It is not a solution to lock up even children and families in camps. Phoenix interviewed me on the subject.

  • Poland and Hungary are already showing that the recently adopted tightening of European asylum law does not necessarily lead to more solidarity among the member states. They neither want to take in people nor provide money to support other countries. To the article.

News from the Borders 10.04.2024

  • Today, the European Parliament is voting on the biggest tightening of asylum laws in the history of the EU. In an interview with Deutschlandfunk radio, I explained that we Greens do not support these deteriorations in asylum law. To the interview.

  • The 2023 crime statistics had not even been published when right-wing media and the CDU already started a debate on migration. Yet the figures give no reason to do so. The taz explains.

News from the Borders 08.04.2024

  • In the past, Albania has taken in thousands of refugees – most recently from Afghanistan. Now the right-wing Italian government wants to bring tens of thousands of people seeking protection to Albania every year so that they no longer arrive in Italy. To the radio report by Deutschlandfunk Kultur (30 min).

  • Finland wants to turn back people seeking protection at the border with Russia, even though this contradicts current law. FAZ reports (Paywall).

News from the Borders 05.04.2024

  • According to British Prime Minister Sunak, border protection is more important than membership of international courts. Many now fear that the UK could withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights in order to enforce its radical deportation policy. To the Handelsblatt article.

  • In order to "optimize" deportations, the CDU-led Ministry of the Interior in Brandenburg wants to lure people to immigration authorities and social welfare offices under false pretences in order to arrest them there, according to a draft. We Greens think this is inhumane. Read more in the Süddeutsche Zeitung.

  • Worried that the mental state of a Gambian man could be a danger to himself, his girlfriend called the emergency services last weekend. A short time later, the police killed 46-year-old Lamin Touray with eight shots. The taz spoke to several eyewitnesses.

News from the Borders 03.04.2024

  • In Morocco, more and more people are being stopped on their way to Europe with EU funds. According to the Moroccan military, around 87,000 people were stopped from fleeing in 2023 alone, and the trend is rising. To the article.

  • We Greens in the Bundestag are calling for the immediate release of the sea rescue ship Sea Eye 4, which was detained by Italian authorities in March because the crew did not want to hand over people seeking protection to the Libyan coastguard. To the press release.

  • On Wednesday night, the Cypriot coastguard rescued more than 260 people who were trying to reach the east coast of Cyprus in two overcrowded boats. More and more people have been arriving there in recent days, including many children from Syria. Stern reports.

News from the Borders 27.03.2024

  • Making waves, ramming, stabbing rubber dinghies at sea with a knife. French security forces are increasingly using force to intercept people on the English Channel. Der Spiegel reports (paywall). A summary can be found at Lightouse.
  • Ehsan M. is being held in custody pending deportation in Bavaria and is due to be deported to Iran this week. Daniela Sepheri calls on Insta to write to the CSU and Free Voters MPs to prevent the deportation. Your video on Insta.
  • Ireland's classification of the United Kingdom as a „safe third country“ to which asylum seekers can be returned is in breach of EU law, according to a recent ruling. The Irish Times reports.

News from the Borders 25.03.2024

  • According to a statement from the IOM, a mass grave containing the bodies of 65 refugees was found in southwest Libya. Der Spiegel reports.

  • After a quiet year so far, around 1700 refugees reached Lampedusa this weekend. A 15-month-old toddler is missing. RND reports.

News from the Borders 22.03.2024

  • During the humanitarian winter deportation stop in Berlin from December 22 to February 28, 73 people were deported. To the Süddeutsche Zeitung.

  • There has been a significant increase in politically motivated violence against refugees in Saxony-Anhalt. Although relatively few people with a migration background live there, they are particularly often victims of racist violence. The MDR reports.

News from the Borders 20.03.2024

  • Friedrich Merz is rehashing the old "upper limit debate" and only wants to allow between 60,000 and 100,000 refugees to enter Germany each year. We have already clarified many times in recent years that there can be no upper limit for basic rights. More on this in the Tagesschau.

  • After being slapped down by the Supreme Court, the government in London now wants to persuade people to voluntarily move to Rwanda with the equivalent of €3500. To the Tagesspiegel.

News from the Borders 18.03.2024

  • Yesterday, Ursula von der Leyen concluded a deal worth billions with the Egyptian regime in Cairo, which also deals with refugees and migration. This deal is morally reprehensible and naive in terms of content. Read more in the FAZ.

  • Using the example of the EU-Tunisia agreement, I explained in my speech in Parliament last week that such deals do not work and lead to more and more chaos and suffering. Speech.

News from the Borders 15.03.2024

  • During a crossing from Libya According to survivors, more than 60 people drowned across the Mediterranean. ZDF heute reports.

  • Italy has detained the largest ship of the sea rescue organization Sea Eye for two months because the crew refused to hand over rescued people to the Libyan coast guard. This is the longest blockade to date by an Italian decree that forces rescue ships to go directly to a predetermined port after a rescue operation and not to respond to any further distress calls. To the article.

News from the Borders 13.03.2024

  • Because his ever-improving integration could stand in the way of later deportation, a Syrian man in Thuringia was banned from working by the authorities – to the annoyance and incomprehension of his company and the Thuringian migration officer. Completely absurd. Work bans should be abolished. The MDR reports.

  • On February 23, five people died off Malta when a ship capsized. The Maltese authorities initially did not send suitable rescue boats and did not inform the nearby Sea-Watch 5, which could have rescued them. More about this at Sea-Watch on Insta.

  • A fire broke out yesterday in the refugee accommodation at Berlin's former Tegel Airport. No one was injured, according to the Berlin fire department. Alternative accommodation is available for the affected residents. RBB reports.

News from the Borders 11.03.2024

  • According to the United Nations, at least 8,565 people lost their lives while fleeing in 2023. This is the highest figure since records began. The number of unreported cases is higher. The Standard reports.
  • Italy has detained the "Sea-Watch 5" after the crew rescued 56 people and brought them ashore. Prior to this, a 17-year-old died on board because Italy, Malta and Tunisia did not initiate a medical evacuation despite requests to do so. To the taz article.
  • doctor as a cab driver. In Poland, many refugees from Ukraine have found work quickly – but they are often employed below their qualifications. To the NDR radio feature (4 min.).

News from the Borders Feminist Day of Struggle 2024

  • Women from third countries can receive protection in the EU due to domestic violence. This was decided by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in Luxembourg in January. DW reports.

  • According to EU human rights expert Dunja MijatoviÄ, Europe's treatment of refugees often does not comply with humanitarian principles or human rights standards. The right to asylum is being eroded. To the Zeit article.

News from the Borders 06.03.2024

  • In the run-up to today's Conference of Minister Presidents, the CDU is pushing for further tightening of asylum laws or even legally unenforceable upper limits. Other topics will be the payment card and the externalization of the external border. Time Online reports.

  • According to a Study by Bertelsmann a clear majority of respondents in Germany see opportunities and benefits from immigration. 87% are of the opinion that refugees should be able to return to work quickly, 75% are in favor of distribution quotas for refugees in the EU and a further 35TP5T say: "Germany can and should take in more refugees because it is a humanitarian necessity. Click here for the summary at Zeit Online.

  • The British House of Lords has significantly weakened the bill, which the Conservative government intends to use to deport refugees without the right to object in future. The FAZ reports.

News from the Borders 04.03.2024

  • Sea rescuers from the organization SOS Humanity rescued 77 people in the Mediterranean at the weekend. The Libyan coastguard jeopardized the rescue operation and even fired on them. One person died as a result of the attack by the border guards. RND reports.

  • The British Home Office has violated the fundamental rights of those affected with a pilot project to monitor migrants with an electronic ankle tag and the tracking of location data that this enables. To the article.

News from the Borders 01.03.2024

  • For 7 years, accused sea rescuers have been facing 20 years in prison. Now it came out: there was no evidence at all. Watch my video about it.

  • Amnesty International considers the outsourcing of asylum procedures to third countries to be contrary to European law. The reason for this is the agreement between Italy and Albania. To the Zeit article.

News from the Borders 28.02.2024

  • The European Ombudsman concludes that Frontex is unable to fully meet its human rights obligations due to current regulations. She appeals to the EU Parliament, Council and Commission to set up a commission of inquiry to clarify the causes of the Mediterranean deaths. More about this on my homepage.

  • The new CDU district administrator of the Saale-Orla district is forcing refugees to work – for 80 cents an hour. Those who don't want to are threatened with financial sanctions. MDR reports.

News from the Borders 26.02.2024

  • Referendum: In Fürstenau, Lower Saxony, a clear majority voted in favor of accepting refugees. Find out more at NDR.

  • The European Court of Human Rights has ruled in favor of a man from Switzerland who had filed a complaint about racial profiling during a police check. The Tagesschau reports.

News from the Borders 23.02.2024

  • Childcare, housing, language and recognition of qualifications: The head of the Marzahn-Hellersdorf job center explains the challenges involved in getting people from Ukraine into work. To the interview.

  • Dozens of organizations have declared their solidarity with the Cypriot NGO KISA and are demanding that it regain its official registration as an NGO. The government is taking action against human rights defenders on flimsy grounds, and KISA's offices were recently attacked with a bomb. The explanation at PICUM.

  • There are currently around 150,000 Russians and 16,000 Ukrainians living in Serbia. Many refugees from Russia would prefer to come to the EU, but are not allowed to. Euronews reports.

News from the Borders 21.02.2024

  • The number of registered politically motivated attacks on refugees in 2023 was almost twice as high as in the previous year. 219 people were injured in the 2,400 attacks. To the Zeit article.

News from the Borders 19.02.2024

  • Italy's Supreme Court has ruled that it is a crime to hand people over to Libya after they have been rescued at sea. The FAZ reports.

  • Ex-Frontex director Fabrice Leggeri is running for third place on the list of the far-right Rassemblement National in the European elections. To the Zeit article.

News from the Borders 16.02.2024

  • In light of the announced ground offensive in Rafah in the Gaza Strip, Egypt has begun building a reception camp for Palestinian refugees. The fenced camp in the Sinai desert has space for more than 100,000 people. Click here for the article.

  • Germany has decidedto extend checks at the internal borders with the Czech Republic by a further six months at the next review in March.

News from the Borders 14.02.2024

  • The crew of the Ocean Viking witnessed numerous violations of maritime and human rights by Libyan patrol vessels. Now the ship has been detained due to questionable information provided by Libyan patrol vessels. To the press release of SOS Mediterranee.

  • A district court in Latvia is conducting criminal proceedings against human rights activist Ieva Raubiško after she traveled to the Latvian border with Belarus. There, she wanted to ensure that a group of Syrian asylum seekers were not forcibly returned to Belarus. Ieva had previously obtained a decision from the European Court of Human Rights on interim measures in relation to the group. Click here for the English summary of the case.

News from the Borders 12.02.2024

  • After public pressure and a petition Vietnamese student Thanh D. was released from detention pending deportation and allowed to stay in Frankfurt am Main for the time being. He moved in with his mother, who is married to a German, seven years ago when he was a minor.

News from the Borders 09.02.2024

  • By a narrow majority, we have A resolution which clearly criticizes the systematic human rights violations by pushbacks, the restriction of press freedom and the criminalization of humanitarian aid in Greece. The right-wing and the conservatives had tried to prevent the resolution. To my homepage contribution and of my speech.

  • A survivor of the deadly pushbacks of people seeking protection at the Spanish-Moroccan border in Melilla filed a complaint with the UN Committee against Torture last week. Here is the ECCHR press release.

News from the Borders 07.02.2024

  • During my speech in Parliament I explained that the right is also getting stronger because democratic parties themselves too often drive reason out of the debate with populist demands and vile language.

  • Ten new bus drivers who came to Germany as refugees have been hired in Mainz. The next ones are already being trained. To the SWR article.

  • Amnesty International warns in a new report against the increasing use of digital technologies for migration control. According to the report, automated monitoring and decision-making systems endanger human rights and increase discrimination and racism. To the report in English.

News from the Borders 05.02.2024

  • Hundreds of asylum seekers have been in a catastrophic situation at Madrid airport for two weeks. The problems include a lack of interpreters, long processing times (10-20 days) and overcrowded, unsanitary accommodation. Voice of Europe reports.

  • A new immigration law has come into force in France, which provides for a significant tightening of the nationality law. Euractiv reports.

News from the Borders 02.02.2024

  • Yesterday I was in a "duel" on migration policy on Welt-TV with Alexander Throm, the CDU parliamentary group's domestic policy spokesperson. One point: you can't shout "Never again is now!" at demonstrations without fighting against the disenfranchisement of asylum seekers. Because the right to asylum is one of the core components of "Never again". You can find a clip of the duel on my Instagram.

  • The EU Commission has presented proposals to take stronger action against "people smuggling", but unfortunately this also threatens to increase the criminalization of civil society in solidarity. ND reports.

News from the Borders 31.01.2024

News from the Borders 29.01.2024

  • In recent months, several opposition members from Rwanda have been granted asylum in the UK due to persecution. The Conservative British government is thus coming under pressure because it currently wants to declare Rwanda a safe third country by law in order to deport asylum seekers there regardless of their origin. The Guardian reports.

  • The movie "Green Border" opens this weekwhich provides an insight into the disturbing conditions in the Polish-Belarusian border region. I will be at the premiere in Hamburg on Wednesday and will talk about the current situation after the film.

  • The Border Violence Monitoring Network documents violence against refugees in Greece. To the report.

News from the Borders 26.01.2024

  • According to IOM data, far more people worldwide were forced to leave their homes by natural disasters in 2022 than by conflict. Deutschlandfunk reports.

  • The governments in Rome and Tirana want to bring asylum seekers rescued from distress at sea by Italy to Albanian reception camps. The implementation of this plan would according to Amnesty International massively violate the human rights of those affected.

  • The UNHCR reportsthat more Rohingya refugees drowned or were reported missing last year than at any time since 2014. More and more people are dying because they are not rescued in time and taken to the nearest place of safety.

News from the Borders 24.01.2024

  • The new Finnish government, which includes the right-wing populist party "The Finns", plans radical tightening entry and asylum conditions.

News from the Borders 22.01.2024

News from the Borders 19.01.2024

  • The German government has passed a law for faster deportations. With Time Online I explain that the law also threatens to criminalize sea rescue. 

  • The Constitutional Court in Albania will decide next week whether the "refugee deal" with Italy is legal. DW explainswhere the legal concerns come from.

News from the Borders 17.01.2024 

  • On September 22, 2014, an officer of the Greek Coast Guard fired thirteen shots at a refugee boat, killing the Syrian father Belal Tello. After nine long years, Greece has now been condemned by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). More on this at Pro Asyl.  

  • Last night I spoke in the European Parliament about the rise of the right in Europe and their remigration fantasies. Unfortunately, I only had one minute to speak, there was so much more to say. The speech can be found her here.

  • In August, I took over the godparenthood for Ehsan Mohammadi, who is now 17 years old. He was facing the death penalty for demonstrating against the Iranian regime. The charges have since been dropped, he had to pay a fine for "disrupting public order", but is now free. More on this at my Instagram. 

News from the Borders 15.01.2024

  • The Taliban are increasingly arresting women for "insufficient veiling" and throwing them into prison. taz reports.

News from the Borders 12.01.2024

News from the Borders 10.01.2024 

  • On Lesbos, the flimsy proceedings against the lifesavers from Free Humanitarians are being resumed. If convicted, they could face years in prison. taz reports.

  • The Greek coastguard recovered two dead people in Lesbos this morning. Their boat crashed into the coastal rocks at around 3 a.m. Stonisi reports (Greek).

  • Last Friday, the premises of the NGO Kisa in Cyprus were attacked with a bomb. The anti-racist and refugee solidarity association has repeatedly been targeted by nationalist and far-right forces in the past. Homepage of Kisa.

News from the Borders 8.01.2024 

  • The Mirror reports on attacks, harassment and beatings by Tunisian security forces and asks to what extent the EU is partly to blame with its support. 

  • Thousands of Rohingya are homeless after a fire in an overcrowded camp in Bangladesh. Fortunately, there were no fatalities. tagesschau.de reports.  

  • After North Rhine-Westphalia, Thuringia is also issuing a deportation ban for Yazidis. The regulation affects women and underage children and will initially apply until April 2024. Tagesspiegel reports.

News from the Borders 18.12.2023

  • Negotiations on EU asylum reform continue today. Compared to the Frankfurter Rundschau I explained that an agreement would be at the expense of human rights.

  • On Sunday I was at "forum democracy" of Phoenix to discuss European asylum and migration policy with other guests. 

News from the Borders 15.12.2023 

  • Very good: The European Parliament has adopted a Resolution which calls on Frontex to end operations that violate human rights.

  • In a detailed interview I explained why we, as the Green Group in the European Parliament, reject the EU asylum reform – as it is currently on the negotiating table –. 

News from the Borders 13.12.2023. 

  • The UNHCR wants to mobilize more aid for displaced persons and host countries with the refugee forum taking place today. 

More about the background on taz.de

  • The British House of Commons has approved the Migration Bill for deportations to Rwanda. Although the courts have already stopped the plans, the Conservatives want this deal at all costs. Analysis in Zeit Online.

News from the Borders 11.12.2023

About Correctiv's research https://correctiv.org/aktuelles/flucht-und-migration/2023/12/06/rund-eine-million-psychisch-kranker-fluechtlinge-in-deutschland/ 

News from the Borders 8.12.2023 

  • Filipo Grandi (UNHCR) and Amy Pope (IOM) write that it is wrong to rely on isolation and that it is against international law to outsource asylum procedures to third countries. To the guest article in Der Spiegel.

News from the Borders 6.12.2023 

  • I have worked with the Tagesschau that the dead on the Balkan route are often buried after a few days without relatives being identified. In my view, we finally need an end to pushbacks and an EU-wide DNA database for unidentified corpses. 

News from the Borders 4.12.2023 

  • The Time Magazine has searched all over Germany for municipalities that are currently completely overwhelmed by the number of refugees. They couldn't find a single one. 

News from the Borders 01.12.2023

  • Many refugees who die on the Balkan route are never identified. In conversation with ARD I have proposed an EU database and an obligation for Member States to cooperate in tracing relatives. 

  • The El Hiblu 3 faces life imprisonmentbecause they had resisted illegal repatriation to Libya. The Maltese justice system's treatment of those who were minors at the time of the incident is shameful. 

News from the Borders 29.11.2023

  • A study I commissioned sheds light on the means by which the EU supports border regimes in Tunisia and Libya – and the serious human rights violations – that go hand in hand with them. The entire study at English. Summary on German.  

  • The military government of Niger, which came to power in a coup has repealed a law that made it a criminal offense to transport foreigners to the north. You can find out why this is important in the taz.

  • The EU Commission wants to take stronger action against people smugglers and organized a conference on this topic yesterday. It is important to me that, following a reform, it is absolutely clear that humanitarian organizations and sea rescuers must not be criminalized. Here you can find the Commission proposal

News from the Borders 27.11.2023

  • 2023 will probably be the deadliest year on the Mediterranean since 2017 Doctors without Borders calls on the EU states to end their inaction and finally do something about the deaths in the Mediterranean. 

  • The war in Sudan is far too rarely present in the public debate. Six million people are on the run. As aid organizations are running out of money, the refugee camps are in need. 

News from the Borders 22.11.2023

News from the Borders 20.11.2023

  • Two lawyers explain the problems the UK government will face if it tries to save the refugee deal with Rwanda. The interview in the taz.

News from the Borders 17.11.2023

News from the Borders 15.11.2024 

  • Important ruling: The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom declares the government's plan to deport asylum seekers arriving across the English Channel to Rwanda to be invalid, for unlawful. You can find the judgment here in writing.

News from the Borders 13.11.2023

  • After officials from the Ministry of the Interior tried to cheat a possible criminalization of sea rescue into a law, the Constitution blog wrote an assessment of the criminalization of assisted flight. 

News from the Borders 10.11.2023

  • A draft law from the SPD-led Ministry of the Interior is intended to Criminalization of sea rescue make it possible. It goes without saying that green people will not agree to this nonsense. 

  • At Conversation with MDR Radio I explained why the agreement between Italy and Albania cannot function under the rule of law and will not solve any problems. 

  • People with a Syrian migration background founded a hiking club and went hiking in Saxon Switzerland. When they returned to the hotel, the police were waiting for them because people thought they were "illegal refugees" for racist reasons. The journalist Riham Alkousaa was part of the group and reports on X.

News from the Borders 08.11.2023

  • Italy's right-wing populist government wants to bring people rescued from distress at sea to Albania instead of Italy in future. To this end, two camps are to be set up on Albanian territory under Italian control. Der Spiegel explains the deal and the taz comments.

  • The German government wants to examine whether asylum procedures outside the EU are legally possible. Judith Wiebke from Pro Asyl explains in an interview with RNDwhy this is a mistake. 

  • Compared to the Daily Mirror I explained that the demand for a "Rwanda model" is not feasible and is therefore populist.

News from the Borders 06.11.2023

  • In 2022, 12,945 people were deported from Germany. The Federal Ministry of the Interior estimates that the number can be increased by 600 in 2023 thanks to the "Repatriation Improvement Act". The focus on deportations is a bogus populist debate that helps the right. The You can find the dates at zdf heute

News from the Borders 3.11.2023

News from the Plenary 13.07.2023 

  • At last! The EU Parliament has today clearly spoken out in favor of an EU sea rescue mission in a resolution. More about this on my Insta.
  • The European Parliament today adopted stricter rules on transparency, corruption and external interference. For us Greens, however, the rules do not go far enough. Euronews reports.
  • Today we adopted our position on the Ecodesign Directive in Parliament. Products should last longer and be repairable and recyclable. The Tagesschau reports.
  • As Parliament, we have spoken out in favor of a charging station for electric cars every 60 km. With the adoption of this and other dossiers, we are one step closer to achieving the Fit for 55 targets. More about Fit for 55 in our Liveblog.

News from the Plenary 12.07.2023

  • Today we discussed the Pylos shipwreck in the European Parliament. In recent weeks, it has become increasingly clear that this was no simple accident, it was a crime. You can find my speech here
  • Today, we MEPs passed an important law to save nature and narrowly prevailed against the conservative and far-right parliamentary groups. Read more in the Briefing by Jutta Paulus.
  • Parliament has agreed on its position to protect journalists from so-called "slap lawsuits". These lawsuits often attempt to intimidate investigative reporters. More on this in our Press release.
  • In a resolution adopted yesterday, the European Parliament calls for an election observation mission to Poland. The elections will take place this year. The Mirror reports.

News from the Borders 10.07.2023 

  • The South German Newspaper went to Sfax to see how black people get stranded and suffer the concentrated racism of the Tunisian population. 
  • At least 300 people on three boats have been missing in the Atlantic for days, according to the aid organization Walking Borders. The Mirror reports.
  • Prime Minister Mark Rutte has caused the Dutch government to collapse because he was unable to push through his demand to allow refugee children to wait at least two years for their families to join them. tagesschau.de reports.

News from the Borders 07.07.2023 

  • A study I commissioned from Borderline Europe Study analyses the criminalization of refugees as suspected smugglers in Greece and shows how the rule of law is being eroded. 
  • The Frankfurter Rundschau has summarized the key findings of the study. 
  • Tunisian security officials take people seeking protection to the desert on the Libyan border and leave them to fend for themselves. The Taz reports.

News from the Borders 05.07.2023 

  • In an interview with table.media, I talked about how the Geneva Refugee Convention is currently under attack and how we can achieve a better asylum system in Europe. You can find the whole interview here here.
  • The refugee minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, Josefine Paul (Greens), has demanded an immediate approval of the federal government to extend the ban on deportations to Iran. WDR reports.  
  • Tomorrow we will present a study in Berlin on the criminalization of refugees in Greece, which Borderline Europe prepared on my behalf. Come along or take part online. Registration here.

News from the Borders 03.07.2023

  • According to the aid organization Caminando Fronteras, more than 50 people have drowned off the Canary Islands. The FAZ reports.
  • The Humanity 1 was able to rescue 197 people in distress at sea and is now supposed to bring them to the distant port of Ortona – and there are many more ports of call. The Mirror reports.
  • RND reports on the EU summit, where I was able to explain that we must be able to find solutions in EU asylum policy even without authoritarian-right-wing states such as Poland or Hungary. 
June news

News from the Borders 28.06.2023

  • In an interview with Monitor, I criticized the fact that the Greek authorities, with political support, can break laws just like that. The whole article here.
  • A London court has ruled that Britain's practice of sending asylum seekers to Rwanda is illegal because Rwanda is not a safe third country. Taz reports.

News from the Borders 28.06.2023 

  • The Ocean Viking has rescued 86 people from an overcrowded inflatable boat in distress off Libya. Most of those rescued are unaccompanied minors. Read more SOS Mediterranée.
  • Frontex is making serious accusations against Greece in the case of the boat disaster two weeks ago. Internally, there is a debate whether Frontex should withdraw from the country. The taz reports. 
  • Half of the boats sighted by Frontex are intercepted by the Libyan coast guard and the people are towed back to the civil war country. Euractiv has reported about it; but you can also find the whole report on here.

News from the Borders 26.06.2023 

  • I spoke with the taz about my clear rejection of tightening asylum laws and about what we Greens must do now. You can find the whole interview here at the taz.
  • Contrary to the announcement of Interior Minister Faeser, „border procedures“ would also be possible for people from states with high recognition rates – for example Syria and Afghanistan –. The ARD fact finder shows where dishonest communication has taken place.
  • The GEAS reform is intended to strengthen Fortress Europe and deter people from fleeing to the EU in the first place. You can find the whole essay in Spiegel International here.
  • The survivors of the boat accident off Pylos are now living in dire conditions in Greece. Middle east eye reports.

News from the Borders 23.06.2023 

  • At Deutschlandfunk I explained in a discussion on the GEAS why the reform will not bring any improvements and will not prevent boating accidents like the one off Pylos in the future.
  • Mahtab lives in Berlin and demands the release of her father Homayoun Sabetara, who has been in prison in Greece for 668 days for driving a car as a fugitive.  

News from the Borders 21.06.2023

  • There is a crisis of the rule of law at the EU's external borders, and the envisaged tightening of asylum laws would make this even more cement
  • Greece will receive a total of €819 million from the EU for "border management" between 2021 and 2027. Of this, only €600,000 is earmarked for Search and Rescue – i.e. just 0.07 percent
  • distress at sea is a Objective condition, which is why the Greek coast guard should have rescued the boat off Pylos.

World Refugee Day 2023 News 

  • Currently, there are over 110 million people on the run. The EU must not close itself off more and more when more and more people are forced to flee. 
  • A year ago, journalist Lujain Alsedeg visited me as part of a workshop at the European Parliament. Today she writes in the tazhow she had to flee from Sudan.   
  • A new law is expected to largely change asylum law in the U.K. abolish
  • Tomorrow from 18.00 we can discuss togetherwhat we are threatened with with the EU asylum law reform and what we can do against it now. 

News from the Borders 19.06.2023

  • Survivors of the boat accident off Pylos tell what happened and why the Greek Coast Guard has a Joint responsibility for the hundreds of dead.  
  • Nancy Faeser is in Tunis and wants to use a lot of money to convince the authoritarian ruler Saied to Bouncer for the EU to play.  

News from the Borders 16.06.2023 

  • A rescue signal was sent from the ship, which sank in the Ionian Sea with hundreds of people. This was ignored
  • The Greek ex-deputy Arsenis says that the ship was in tow of the Greek coast guard. It is reasonable to assume that the Greek coast guard contributed to the accident because they wanted to pull the ship into Italian waters. 
  • In conversation with ARD I said again that we accept the deaths in the Mediterranean, it has to be said. That perhaps one even partly wants people to die in the Mediterranean Sea in order to deter it.
  • eurotopics has collected and translated comments on the disaster from Greece and other European countries. 

News from the Borders 14.06.2023

  • At least 59 people drowned off the coast of Pylos in southern Greece. They were on a ship heading for the Italian coast. 
  • At RBB Inforadio I explained why the Council position's tightening of asylum law is a downward spiral that also puts the rule of law at risk. 

News from the Borders 12.06.2023

  • In the Tagesthemen I was allowed to tell why the Council's proposal on the GEAS brings no improvements, but many deteriorations. 
  • I have seen in a Document summarizes why the concept of Safe Third Countries gives EU members wide latitude in rejecting asylum applications.
  • The Commission is holding out the prospect of €900 million to prevent refugees from fleeing to the EU. But the government and the people in Tunisia do not want to Border Police be for the EU.  

News from the Borders 09.06.2023

  • At Twitter I have written down why the agreement is a mistake. And later on, I classified some false assumptions that are currently circulating about the rest position. 

News from the Borders 07.06.2023

  • In conversation with the RND I was allowed to explain why we are threatened with a Council position that represents a strong encroachment on the right of asylum and is not covered by the Basic Law.
  • SOS Humanity has sent the Federal Ministry of the Interior a Petition with over 60,000 signatures handed overin which they call for more commitment from the German government and a coordinated European sea rescue program.  
  • German Radio Culture informed about the EU development policy initiative "Global Gateway" and asked me for an assessment.  

News from the Borders 05.06.2023

  • More than 100 celebrities remind the federal government in a open letter to their own coalition agreement and criticize its position on the envisaged reform of the European asylum system. 
  • The "Sea Eye 4" and the "Mare Go" have been fixed, because they have saved people's lives.

News from the Borders 02.06.2023

  • The Italian government has spoken about its role in the shipwreck off Crotone lied, in which 94 people – including 35 children – died. Frontex has helped them to do this cover up 
  • Pro Asylum has clearly presented the dangers of the planned reform of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS). 
  • If you live in Germany and need a travel document as an Eritrean, the Eritrean embassy not an option. Because there threaten remorseful statements and monetary claims. 
May 2023 news

News from the Borders 31.05.2023 

  • Dozens of Syrians report from formalized pushback by German officials in the border area with Austria. Pushbacks would be serious crimes by German authorities, this should be investigated independently.

News from the Borders 26.05.2023

  • Over 700 lawyers are calling on the German government to stick to its coalition agreement. You can find the open letter here.

News from the Borders 24.05.2023 

News from the Borders 23.05.2023

  • At Morning show I was allowed to explain why I am critical of border procedures and why we need better rather than worse standards at external borders. 

News from the Borders 17.05.2023 

News from the Borders 15.05.2023

  • Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and Migration Commissioner Joachim Stamp (FDP) are pushing for Moldova and Georgia to be classified as safe countries of origin, even though the Russian war of aggression is having a massive impact on the two states. We Greens are strictly against this classification. Read more in the RND.

News from the Borders 12.05.2023 

News from the Borders 10.05.2023 

  • In 2022, there were less than 200,000 asylum applications from people who fled to Germany, so the current debate completely misses the reality. The municipalities need more support now, right-wing rhetoric does not solve problems. On my Insta you can find a graphic about it.
  • Germany bears a great responsibility for climate change. Independent advisers to the German government therefore propose climate pacts for refugees. zdf heute reports.  

News from the Borders 08.05.2023 

  • Christian Lindner (FDP) calls for more fences at the external borders, because he simply does not want to understand that fences do not prevent people from fleeing and applying for asylum in the EU. The Daily Mirror reports on Lindner's demand.
  • Pro Asyl speaks with the current demands from FDP and SPD of a âmenschenrechtlichen Dammbruchâ. Daily Mirror reports.
  • The taz reports on the debate in the traffic light on the asylum reform and talked to me about my criticism. 

News from the Borders 5.05.2023 

  • âIt is dishonest for the federal interior minister to say that people from Syria or Afghanistan would not fall under the border procedures. In many cases, they would be denied access to asylum procedures.â That’s what I told the Daily Mirror said.
  • Thuringia's Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow has called for a blanket recognition of all asylum seekers who arrived after 2014. dlf reports. 
  • UN expects 860,000 people to flee Sudan. tagesschau.de reports. 

News from the Borders 3.05.2023

  • In an interview with Radio Eins this morning, I explained why mandatory asylum procedures at the external borders would lead to detention of protection seekers and have not worked in the past. Here it's off to the interview. 
  • An analysis by âBrot für die Weltâ shows that rescue ships on the Mediterranean Sea have been blocked for a total of 1116 weeks since 2016. The Mirror reports.
  • The Bosnian Minister of Human Rights criticizes the detention center at Camp Lipa and does not want to allow protection seekers to be locked up there. Kurir reports. 

News from the Borders 2.05.2023 

  • In conversation with the Deutschlandfunk I explain why Nancy Faeser's proposal for compulsory asylum procedures at the external borders is a sucker for right-wing populists. And also with ZDF Today I commented on Sunday (from 0.51).
  • Since 2018, Mare Liberum has been monitoring the human rights situation of refugees in the Mediterranean. The association complains about repression â and now stops its work. The taz reports.
  • Italy continues to harass sea rescuers, forcing the Geo Barents with 336 survivors on board to sail 1245 kilometers to the north of Italy. A Map of msf sea shows how absurd this is.
April 2023 news

News from the Borders 28.04.2023

  • After a Post on ZDF about flight from Tunisia across the Mediterranean, I explained why a deal along the lines of the EU-Turkey deal would not work. 
  • In the past 10 days alone, nearly 300 deaths have been counted in the Mediterranean Sea. IOM on twitter.
  • The third episode of the podcast âBoys Clubâ reveals how âBildâ campaigns against refugees, shifting realities and influencing debates. Click here to go to Episode.

News from the Borders 26.04.2023 

  • Sea rescuers take Meloni to court. A doctoral candidate in maritime law explains the rule of law in the Friday
  • After attacks and incitement by the president, many black people in Tunisia no longer feel safe. World Time talks to them and reports on the situation.
  • In the Bosnian camp Lipa, a detention wing is being built, financed by the EU Commission. NGOs fear a deportation prison at the EU’s external border. The Tagesschau reports.

News from the Borders 24.04.2023 

  • In a boat accident off Lampedusa died at least one person and about 20 others are missing. 34 people from the boat could be rescued. Rai reports.
  • Lithuania allows illegal pushbacks at the border with Belarus, although these are clearly against international law. Patrols by volunteer border guards are also to become possible. The taz reports
  • Saxony's Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer argues on the far right, questioning the pledges for Afghan local forces – that is, for people who are at risk because they have supported the Bundeswehr. tagesschau.de reports.

News from the Borders 21.04.2023

  • The European Parliament decided yesterday by a majority of 322 to 290 votes that there will be no EU money for border fences. The conservatives wanted to push this through in an alliance with right-wing populists and extremists. From Germany, the CDU/CSU and the AfD were in favor. More on this at Euractiv.
  • In my speech in the plenary I talked about the border fences and how human dignity, human rights and even human lives are subordinated to political goals. You can find the speech on my Insta.
  • The EU Parliament has adopted key legislative proposals of a new pact on migration and asylum and thus adopted a position for the trilogue negotiations with the Council and the Commission. You can find my position on the various regulations here. 
  • On Wednesday, a fugitive woman was shot dead by police at the border between northern Macedonia and Greece. Yesterday began the joint operation of Frontex with the police in northern Macedonia, in which more than 100 Frontex border guards are sent to the border. InfoMigrants reports on the death of the woman. More about the joint operation here.  

News from the Borders 19.04.2023

  • At least 127 people have drowned in the Mediterranean this year because of delays in government-led rescue operations, according to the IOM. The taz reports.
  • In the BiaÅowieża jungle on the Polish-Belarusian border last night was found the body of a man fleeing activist:inside. It is the eleventh body found there this year. Gazeta Wyborcza reported (PL).
  • Yesterday we confirmed in the European Parliament the visa-free regime for citizens of Kosovo to the EU. They will be able to enter the EU for up to 90 days from January 1, 2024. More info in the Daily Mirror.

News from the Borders 17.04.2023 

  • Following calls for closer cooperation with Tunisia, civilian rescue organizations and refugee solidarity networks discuss why Tunisia is not a safe haven for those rescued at sea. The joint statement can be found at hereHere a study by the Böll Foundation, which comes to the same conclusion. 
  • At least 32 people were killed in an accident off the Tunisian coast last Wednesday. afp reports. 
  • Through a leak, an important article in Die Zeit made it clear that Mathias Döpfner is a right-wing conspiracy theorist who wants to influence democracy with his media. At Insta I have prepared some of his statements. You can find the Zeit article here (Paywall).

News from the Borders 14.04.2023 

  • In the first three months of this year, at least 441 people drowned while fleeing in the Mediterranean. The number is the highest since 2017. The reasons are gaps in rescue missions and the failure of EU member states to provide assistance. The dlf reports. 
  • With funds from the EU and Austria, a prison was built in Bosnia and Herzegovina to house refugees who were previously pushed out of Croatia. The Standard reports.
  • After Germany and France, Austria will now also extend the controls at its internal EU borders. This contradicts the whole idea of free movement through the Schengen agreement. The FAZ reports.

News from the Borders 12.04.2023

  • Italy's right-wing government imposes a nationwide state of emergency over arrivals across the Mediterranean. The Mirror reports.
  • In the remote Bosnian camp Lipa, refugees are detained who were violently pushed out of Croatia. Funds for the camp also came from Austria. ORF reports.
  • Between 2014 and 2022, physical barriers such as fences at the EU's external borders were extended from 315 kilometers to 2048 kilometers. An overview can be found at Schengenvisainfo { "en".) 

News from the Borders 05.04.2023

  • The federal reception program for Afghans has been halted for an indefinite period. The German authorities want to introduce another security check. The NGOs welcome this in principle, but once again governmental failure is put on the backs of those seeking protection. Read more on the website of the Kabul airlift.
  • The European Court of Human Rights has condemned Italy for inhumane and degrading treatment of Tunisian refugees on the island of Lampedusa. Read more in the Time
  • Last Friday, the winter deportation stop ended in Berlin. 600 Moldovan refugees, a large part of whom are Roma, now face collective deportation. Pier tweets.

News from the Borders 03.04.2023

  • The European Court of Human Rights has condemned Italy for inhumane and degrading treatment of Tunisian refugees on the island of Lampedusa. Read more in the Time
  • Over the weekend, the Ocean Viking rescued 92 people in the Mediterranean Sea. The Italian authorities assigned the port of Salerno, which is 830 kilometers away. The ZDF reports.
  • A plane from Sea Watch has observed on Saturday how 3 boats were intercepted in the Mediterranean Sea by the so-called Libyan coast guard. An aircraft of the Maltese authorities was also briefly on the scene. Photos and the report of Sea Watch can be found on Instagram
News of March 2023

News from the Borders 31.03.2023

News from the Borders 29.03.2023

News from the Borders 27.03.2023

News from the Borders 24.03.2023

News from the Borders 23.03.2023 

  • While attempting to reach the French island of Mayotte from Madagascar, the following are 34 people drowned

News from the Borders 20.03.2023

News from the Borders 17.03.2023

News from the Borders 15.03.202

  • Today in the European Parliament we again discussed the issue of sea rescue. For me, the biggest shame of Europe at the moment is that we apparently prefer to let people drown than to bring them to safety, because we want fewer asylum applications. You can find my speech here

News from the Borders 13.03.2023 

News from the Borders 10.03.2023 

News from the Borders 09.03.2023

News from the Borders 06.03.2023

News from the Borders 03.03.2023

News from the Borders 01.03.2023

  • The FDP wants tightening of ship safety regulation for small ships and thus attacks civilian sea rescue. I will work to ensure that such tightening does not occur and that the German government adheres to the coalition agreement.
  • Today, the new Frontex Director Hans Leijtens starts his work. At my homepage you will find a chronology of the accusations against Frontex and my demands to Leijtens. 
News from February 2023

News from the Borders 27.02.2023

  • More than 60 dead have already washed up in Italy. The crashed boat had bypassed Greece because refugees are disenfranchised and mistreated there. Frontex apparently knew about the boat long before the accident, but no sea rescue was launched. It is a European disgrace. About this I have today Discussed with callers during the day and answered questions 

News from the Borders 24.02.2023

News from the Borders 22.02.2023

  • A merchant ship was ordered by the Maltese Coast Guard not to come to the aid of 55 fugitives in distress at sea and subsequently changed course. Alarm Phone tweets about the case.

News from the Borders 20.02.2023 

News from the Borders 17.02.2023 

News from the Borders 15.02.2023 

  • 65 members of the Bundestag from four parliamentary groups have sent a letter of protest to the Italian parliament, in which they oppose a tightening of the law on sea rescue in Italy. You can find the letter here.

News from the Borders 13.02.2023

  • Pham Phi Son has lived in Chemnitz since 1987, his daughter was born in the city. Now the two are to be deportedbecause the Saxon Hardship Commission has rejected their application. The CDU could help them, but does not want to. 

News from the Borders 10.02.2023

  • In Greece, a woman who set herself on fire in a suicide attempt out of desperation in a refugee camp has been sentenced to 15 months in prison for "intentional arson." More about the case at Borderline Europe.

News from the Borders 08.02.2023

  • Aegean Boat Report registered 66 illegal deportations in the Aegean Sea in January. 1,881 people were denied their right to apply for asylum.

News from the Borders 06.02.2023 

  • Before Lampedusa are nine people died on the flight to Europe, including a four-month-old baby. In the Ãgäis in a boat accident have died five people died. 
  • Federal Minister of the Interior Faeser invites the municipalities to a renewed âRefugee summitâ one. 

News from the Borders 03.02.2023 

  • The Italian government has extended the migration agreement with Libya for three years. Over the past six years, the Libyan coast guard, with Italian assistance, has 108,000 people dragged back to Libyawhere they face imprisonment and torture.  
  • ECtHR condemns Hungary: In 2016, a pair of Syrian brothers, together with other refugees, attempted to cross the border river Tisza to Hungary. Hungarian border guards pushed them back, killing one of the brothers. 
  • In plenary, I proposed that we create EU-funded scholarship programs in Afghanistan's neighboring states so that Afghan girls and women can regain access to education. You can find the speech here.  

News from the Borders 01.02.2023 

January 2023 news

News from the Borders 30.01.2023 

  • At Conversation with web.de I declare that the conservatives in the European Parliament, and above all Manfred Weber (CSU), are seeking alliances with right-wing extremists. 
  • The Swedish Presidency focuses on the closure of the EU's external borders and deportations, rather than on the fundamental rights of refugees. The statement of the Swedish presidency can be found at here.

News from the Borders 27.01.2023 

  • The EU asylum agency EUAA concludes that Afghan women and girls should be granted asylum based on their gender alone. In conversation with RND I explain what that must mean now. 

News from the Borders 25.01.2023

  • In 2015, three fugitives died in Croatia due to a fire that broke out in a border police station. The European Court of Human Rights now ruled that Croatia violates the right to life of the persons has because no measures were initiated to save them. 
  • The Court in Rome pronounced a landmark decision on the ship disaster off Lampedusa in 2013: The Italian coast guard and navy are responsible for the deaths of 268 people seeking protection due to the deliberate failure to rescue them.

News from the Borders 23.01.2023

News from the Borders 20.01.2022

  • In the European Parliament this week we discussed the criminalization of sea rescue and humanitarian aid. You can find my speech on Insta
  • Lighthouse Reports has researched that asylum seekers:inside, including children, are held in unofficial prisons – sometimes shackled – during the crossing in the belly of passenger ships. Here you can find the TV report from Monitor.
  • Against the background of the large number of refugees from Russia, Kazakhstan has Entry and residence regulations tightened. In the future, they will only be allowed to stay there for up to 90 days without a visa. 

News from the Borders 18.01.2022 

  • "Ask the state"calls on Frontex officials to report abuses in order to protect human rights. 
  • The NGO Caminando Frontereas counts for 2022 Total 2390 victimswho died on the flight to Spain. Among them, 1784 alone on the route to the Canary Islands. 
  • At the border between Serbia and Hungary, refugees try to find a way into the European Union. People like the physician Nicolai Kißling stand by them. 

News from the Borders 16.01.2022 

  • As recently as August 2022, a judge told Abdelkarim Bendjeriou-Sedjerari, a gay refugee activist from Algeria, that yes, he could live there discreetly and wanted him deported. Now he was recognized as a refugee after all – also thanks to a paradigm shift under the traffic lights. 
  • Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has condemned the execution of the Iranian-British politician Akbari and other demonstrators as an inhumane act, and ordered the Iranian ambassador to. Baerbock: "A regime that murders its own youth to intimidate its population has no future." 

News from the Borders 13.01.2022 

  • All charges against 22 of the 24 accused aid workers on Lesvos have been dropped. The charges against the international staff were dropped, while those against two Greek staff were not dropped. However, this is not an acquittal and the Greek authorities could re-file charges on other counts. The Legal Center Lesvos explains why this is not the end of the case. Statement from defendant Sean Binder after the fall.

News from the Borders 12.01.2022 

News from the Borders 11.01.2022 

  • In 2022, according to UNHCR data. At least 1940 died in the Mediterranean Sea while fleeing to Europe. 
  • According to GIZ, the German government has commissioned around 24,000 people rescued from Afghanistan. Among them were people from human rights organizations, the judiciary and the media. 

News from the Borders 10.01.2022 

  • According to UNHCR never since World War II have so many people worldwide been displaced as by the war of aggression on Ukraine. More than 7.9 million people have fled the country, and another 5.9 million are displaced within Ukraine. That is more than one third of the population
  • Italy has assigned Ancona as a safe port to the Geo Barents, although the city is much further awaythan many other ports. With such methods the new Italian government tries to prevent sea rescue. 
December 2022 news

News from the Borders 15.12.2022 

  • After the resignation of Fabrice Leggeri, everything was supposed to change at Frontex, but now the EU’s anti-fraud agency is investigating interim director Aija Kalnaja, who wants to succeed Leggeri. All info at Mirror (paywall) and a summary at Lighthouse Reports.
  • For months, the Iranian regime has been attempting to Suppress protests. 18,000 people have been imprisoned, nearly 500 people have been shot, tortured and killed.  
  • The majority of the Ukrainians who fled the country feels welcome in Germany, according to a survey. A third would like to stay for at least a few years.  

News from the Borders 14.12.2022 

  • After the corruption scandal, we have yesterday Eva Kaili was removed as Vice-President of the European Parliament by 99.5% of the votes cast. 
  • Amnesty International has published a report with Witness statements on the violence in Melilla published. The organization holds the authorities jointly responsible for the numerous deaths. 
  • Frontex is considered to be non-transparent. Now âask the stateâ has a Database with over 4,000 documents they have collected through inquiries. 

News from the Borders 13.12.2022 

  • Yesterday we froze the visa negotiations with Qatar in parliament because there is a suspicion that they tried to influence democratic decisions by corrupt means. You can find my speech on Insta here
  • I spoke with the RND about the fact that the accused of corruption Eva Kaili called me and showed great interest in visa facilitation being granted to the Gulf emirate quickly and without too many conditions. 
  • The EU Commission is making around â'¬2 billion available to work with African countries to improve To make it more difficult to flee across the Mediterranean Sea

News from the Borders 12.12.2022 

  • If it turns out that Qatar wanted to influence political decisions through corruption, there must be severe consequences. In this situation, of course, there can be no visa liberalization for Qatar. This is what I also said yesterday in the tagesschau explained.
  • Border Forensics and Human Rights Watch conducted extensive research to show how the Data from Frontex air surveillance misused become 
  • The Geo Barents and Humanity 1 arrived on Sunday morning with a combined good 500 rescued people on board arrived in Salerno and Bari.

News from the Borders 9.12.2022 

News from the Borders 8.12.2022

News from the Borders 7.12.2022

  • In the conversation with ARD I demanded that the Shots at a Syrian on the Bulgarian border need to be investigated. It is scandalous that such incidents only come to light when investigative research uncovers them. 
  • I talked to Ippen.Media about how Putin is trying to EU to blackmail with refugees and how we should respond.  
  • Tomorrow the EU interior ministers will vote on the Instrumentalization Ordinance ab. 35 organizations call on the federal government to vote against this erosion of the right to asylum at the external borders. 

News from the Borders 6.12.2022

  • Footage shows a young Syrian man being shot at the EU's external border. Analysis of the video and eyewitness accounts suggest that the shot was fired from the Bulgarian side. Lighthouse Reports has the Violence video published (Content Warning).
  • The heads of state and government of the 27EU states are meeting today in Albania with their counterparts from the countries of the Western Balkans. The focus is on EU enlargement and the so-called Balkan route. Migration Researcher Judith Kohlenberger on Twitter to the Balkan route.
  • This year, more than 12,000 Albanians have entered the United Kingdom - many of them irregularly across the English Channel. The Tagesspiegel names the reasons.

News from the Borders 5.12.2022 

  • The crews of the Humanity 1, the Geo Barents, and the Louise Michel have completed around 270 people rescued from distress at sea.
  • The EU Commission wants to Making it more difficult to flee via the Balkan routeAlthough most of the people seeking protection currently come from Syria and Afghanistan, there are no safe escape routes for them. 
  • According to the Iranian prosecutor general, the morality police in Iran is said to have been dissolved. However, it is feared that this is only a diversionary tactic in view of the three-day protests communicated as of today. 

News from the Borders 2.12.2022

  • Today, the Bundestag passed the Opportunity Residency adopted. It offers many people the chance to get out of the system of chain toleration and the fear of deportation and to obtain a secure residence status. 
  • Yesterday in the Bundestag on the Facilitation of the naturalization law discussed. The CDU/CSU became populist, while the traffic lights countered with facts. 
  • The Interior Committee of the European Parliament voted yesterday, with me as rapporteur, in favor of a Visa liberalization for Ecuador, Oman, Kuwait and Qatar. This will pave the way for citizens of these countries to travel visa-free to the EU for up to 90 days. 

News from the Borders 01.12.2022

  • Three men are on the rudder blade of an old tanker from Nigeria to the Canary Islands for eleven days and six hours. Europe's isolationist policies are pushing people onto ever more dangerous routes. 
  • The federal government has agreed on new regulations for the immigration of skilled workers. agreed.
  • The European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR), Sea-Watch and other civil society organizations have filed criminal complaints with the International Criminal Court (ICC) against 13 high-ranking officials of EU Member States and EU authorities. Click here for the Sea-Watch press statement.
News from November 2022

News from the Borders 30.11.2022

  • Several major media outlets have collaborated to reconstruct the Melilla massacre, in which at least 23 people died and dozens remain missing. They use visual evidence, on-the-ground reports, and witness testimony to prevent a cover-up of the crime by Spanish and Moroccan authorities. The 16-minute video and a summary can be found at Lighthouse Reports. A German translation is available at the Mirror (Paywall).  
  • The new âChancenaufenthaltsrechtâ is intended to offer tolerated persons who have been in Germany for a longer period of time a possible perspective for staying. The Süddeutsche Zeitung spoke with my colleague from the Bundestag. Filiz Polat talked about it.
  • Berlin's Senator of the Interior wants to quickly deport 600 people from Moldova, because she needs accommodations for refugees from Ukraine. With this proposal, the SPD politician clearly violates the coalition agreement with the Greens and the Left, which stipulates that no deportations should be carried out in winter for humanitarian reasons. 

News from the Borders 29.11.2022

  • Until further notice no more people deported from Germany to Iran become
  • For over a year, Poland has been militarizing its border with Belarus and trying to prevent people from applying for asylum in the EU. NDR Info publishes a extensive radio feature on the subject. 
  • Many lesbian and gay people leave Uganda and fto neighboring Kenya. But even there they experience homophobic violence again and again, especially in the refugee camps. 

News from the Borders 28.11.2022 

  • The federal government plans to simplify naturalization and make it possible more quickly. Deutschlandfunk summarizes the planned changes together.
  • Kherson continues to be shelled and lacks electricity, water, food and medicine. The export of grain is also delayed. Zeit Online summarizes the Location together.
  • After the delays of the admission program for endangered Afghans by the German government, fraudsters are now taking advantage of the situation to rip people off. The taz shows how the scam works.

News from the Borders 24.11.2022

News from the Borders 23.11.2022

  • In the European Parliament today we discussed sea rescue and I tried to explain especially to the conservative MEPs what is actually happening in the Mediterranean and how also their language contributes to the situation as it is. Here you can find my speech about it.
  • The Sea Punk I is on its way to the shipyard in Spain, bringing another rescue ship to the Mediterranean. 
  • Many people wait in Calais for good weather to dare the dangerous crossing over the English Channel into the United Kingdom. ARD reporter Srdjan Govedarica was in Calais and has documented the life of the refugees there.

News from the Borders 22.11.2022

  • The protests in Iran have been going on for nine weeks. In a new podcast, journalists Gilda Sahebi and Sahar Eslah shed light on developments. The podcast, published today second episode deals with the attacks on Kurds and the bloody November. 
  • Yesterday, the European Commission published its âAction Planâ for the central Mediterranean Sea. Above all, the Commission should demand that the member states comply with the law and rescue people in distress at sea.  
  • On the way from Turkey to Italy, a ship with 400-500 refugees got into distress south of Crete. The Greek coast guard is currently trying to rescue the people under difficult conditions. Read here why people are choosing increasingly dangerous routes to reach Europe.

News from the Borders 21.11.2022 

  • The Iranian regime is using massive force in the Kurdish-majority city of Mahabad. According to eyewitness reports Security forces fired indiscriminately at demonstrators have.  
  • The Turkish government bombed Kurdish-majority areas in northern Syria and northern Iraq in an attack that violated international law, and killed at least 31 people in the process. Federal Minister of the Interior Faeser is leaving today for a two-day visit to Turkey. 
  • A week after the arrival of the "Ocean Viking" France has 123 refugees refused entry â it is impossible to carry out a constitutional procedure for so many people in such a short time. 

News from the Borders 18.11.2022 

News from the Borders 17.11.2022 

  • Aleksandar VuÄiÄ (Serbia), Viktor Orbán (Hungary) and Karl Nehammer (Austria) have signed an agreement to stop âAsyltourismâ. Migration researcher Gerald Knaus discusses these right-wing populist policies and rhetoric at Pulse 24.
  • In Afghanistan, Sharia penalties are to become mandatory nationwide on the orders of the Taliban chief. Similar to neighboring Iran, the following have now also been sentenced for ârebellionâ Protesters threatened with the death penalty. 
  • One month ago burned down an asylum shelter for Ukrainians:insideafter a swastika was smeared on the building. The fire was presumably set by a firefighter.  

News from the Borders 16.11.2022 

  • France wants Directly deport 44 rescued from Ocean VikingIt is not possible to conduct a constitutional procedure in such a short time.
  • 31 years after the deadly arson attack on a home for asylum seekers in Saarlouis, Germany, the Trial against 51-year-old neo-Nazi Peter S. He allegedly started the fire that killed 27-year-old asylum seeker Samuel Yeboah in 1991. 
  • In Latvia, the Internal Security Bureau under the Ministry of Interior declared that its investigation did not reveal any human rights violations at the Latvian-Belarusian border. Amnesty International had previously documented massive human rights violations. 

News from the Borders 15.11.2022 

News from the Borders 14.11.2022 

  • With the Deutschlandfunk I talked about Italy’s policy and how it benefits the right-wing populists when 27 EU states cannot agree on the basics of a constitutional asylum policy. 
  • The Rosa Luxemburg Foundation's new Atlas of Migration deals with global mobility in times of crises and wars. Here you can look at it for free as a pdf or order it.
  • On Saturday, the Guardian published an ArticleAccording to the report, the British and French coast guards discussed for hours in November who should rescue a boat from distress until 27 people drowned. The United Kingdom and France have just signed an agreement. Agreement for ⬠72.2 million signed for the coming year to prevent flight across the English Channel.

News from the Borders 11.11.2022 

  • Yesterday, we voted in parliament for Croatia to join the Schengen area. However, on the condition that a functioning and independent human rights monitoring mechanism is established to stop the violence at the EU's external border. You can find my speech here.
  • The German government strengthens the civilian rescue at sea in the budget and supports United4Rescue with two million â¬. The deputy Jamila Schäfer on twitter
  • The Brandenburg state parliament has cleared the way for the construction of the deportation center at Berlin-Brandenburg Airport. Starting in 2026, 315 million euros will be used to finance rent and leasing. More than 60 organizations criticize the project.

News from the Borders 10.11.2022 

  • The EU Commission demanded that the 234 people on board the âOcean Vikingâ at the nearest port, but the Italian government did not comply. In the meantime, the ship has been assigned a safe port in Toulon, France. 
  • I have worked with Radio One The new Italian government’s unacceptable behavior towards people rescued from distress at sea.  
  • The âNadirâ has helped yesterday to rescue over 200 people from distress at sea. 

News from the Borders 09.11.2022 

  • On the âOcean Vikingâ, 234 people rescued from distress at sea have been waiting for a safe port for 19 days. The ship is now on its way to Marseille after Italian authorities failed to assign them a port. Current updates are available here at SOS Mediterranee.
  • In Catania the remaining 250 rescued people were finally allowed to leave the rescue ships âGeo Barentsâ and âHumanity 1â. Before that, the 89 rescued people from the âRise Aboveâ were already allowed to go ashore in Calabria. 
  • Five months ago, at least 37 people died at the Spanish border fence near Melilla. The Spanish Interior Ministry claimed that no excessive force had been used, but new findings refute the

News from the Borders 08.11.2022 

  • The situation in Catania continues to deteriorate, three people jumped into the water yesterday out of desperation. The captain of the German ship Humanity 1 refuses to leave the port. The Ocean Viking has been waiting for 18 days to be assigned a safe harbor. I spoke with the Berliner Kurier talked about the situation
  • In the first three quarters of 2022, nationwide. 65 Attacks on refugee shelters almost as many as in the entire previous year. 
  • The Traffic light government considers pushbacks in the Balkans to be illegal and criticizes them. But at the same time, the SPD-led Ministry of the Interior supports the border police forces of the Balkan states with millions of euros, even though they carry out the pushbacks. 

News from the Borders 07.11.2022 

  • After 35 rescued people were forbidden to go ashore in Italy, SOS Humanity has now Legal action initiated against Italy, to take action against the manifestly unlawful collective rejection. 
  • From the Geo Barents of Médecins Sans Frontières, the new right-wing government in Italy does not want to let even 215 people ashore in order to make an unlawful example of them. The rescued on the Ocean Viking have been waiting for a safe haven for 16 days. 
  • While the Italian government is escalating the situation, breaking the law and endangering people, on Thursday the Sea Watch 5 christened in Hamburg. We will not allow the saving of lives to be prevented by right-wing radicals in Rome. 
News from October 2022

News from the Borders 28.10.2022 

News from the Borders 27.10.2022 

News from the Borders 26.10.2022 

  • More than 5,600 people have died since the beginning of 2021 while fleeing from North Africa to Europe and on escape routes within Europe. At least 252 people have been killed as a result of pushbacks, it said. You can find the IOM report here. A summary is available at ORF.
  • With Deutsche Welle I have talked about a possible "sea blockade the new far-right government in Italy and explained why this would not work at all. 
  • Despite the most serious human rights violations, the EU Commission yesterday recommended that Frontex in Albania, Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina is to become active. It provided €39.2 million in financial assistance for "border management" in the Western Balkans.

News from the Borders 25.10.2022 

  • Syrians in Germany have to apply for Syrian passports through Assad's embassy in Berlin and pay a lot of money for them. Adopt a Revolution estimates that this results in over 100 million € from Germany to Assad regime flow.  
  • During fighting in eastern Congo around 23,000 people displaced
  • Due to lack of funds the UNHCR has to stop supporting some 70,000 refugee families in Lebanon, can no longer guarantee water supplies in camps in Chad, or help fight Ebola in Uganda.  

News from the Borders 24.10.2022 

  • Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser (SPD) argues that the Balkan route must be closed because so many people are not eligible for protection. Yet the adjusted protection rate in Germany is currently 71.6 percent and almost 100 percent for people from Syria and Afghanistan â who mainly come via the Balkan route â. 
  • According to Human Rights Watch Report Turkey has deported hundreds of already recognized refugees to Syria with massive force.  
  • World reporter Carolina Drüten accompanied me to the Turkish-Greek land border and speaks in her article of "Europe's most brutal border". 

News from the Borders 21.10.2022 

  • In the interview with Der Spiegel, I demand that helpers should receive 500 € per month for the private accommodation of refugees and explain how this would also save the state money. You can find the interview here (Paywall).  
  • Time and again, the Internet is shut down in Iran, depriving people of the opportunity to report on the protests. According to research, also a German company involved to restrict the Internet in Iran. How to help the people in Iran to circumvent these restrictions has the WDR summarized.
  • The European Court of Human Rights ruled that courts must independently review cases involving charges of racial profiling. The sea bridge has a Thread made to this.

News from the Borders 20.10.2022 

  • Because of a Brandes refugees from Ukraine had to leave their accommodation in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Arson is suspected; no one was injured. On the very day of the fire, the police had visited the accommodation because of a swastika graffiti on the entrance sign. 
  • Nancy Faeser is again pitting refugees from Ukraine against refugees from Afghanistan and Syria and wants to limit irregular entries via the Balkan route.
  • Serbia responds to pressure from the EU and tightens entry requirements for people from India, Burundi, Cuba and Tunisia. 

News from the Borders 19.10.2022 

  • The plenary of the European Parliament yesterday denied Frontex the discharge for 2020 with a clear majority. The agency must now Mandatorily implement demands of the European Parliament. A slap in the face for the member states, which should oversee the EU agency on the board.
  • Elnaz Rekabi landed at Imam Khomeini Airport in Tehran at 03:40 local time. People have come to the airport to greet her with âHero Elnazâ. For more on the protests in Iran, see the Twitter profile of Shoura Hashemi.  
  • The Bundestag today discusses the first reading of the Opportunity ResidencyWith this program, the federal government wants to enable foreigners who have been tolerated for many years to fulfill the requirements for a right to stay in Germany. 

News from the Borders 18.10.2022 

News from the Borders 17.10.2022 

  • After in Greece 92 almost naked and partly injured migrants were found, Turkey and Greece accuse each other of being responsible for the incident.
  • Natalie Amiri explains in an interview with DLF that Iran is not about "headscarf protests" but about radical change in the country. 
  • At the EU Conference of Interior Ministers on Friday it was decided to extend the directive on temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees and to put pressure on Serbia to show visa-free regime with other states. 

News from the Borders 13.10.2022 

  • Interior Minister Nancy Faeser pits refugees from Ukraine against refugees from Syria and Afghanistan. Criticism of it also comes from the Jusos. 
  • Friedrich Merz and others have been talking more and more in recent days about pull factors being relevant for flight movements. How outdated this approach is, you can see at tagesschau.de read up. 
  • The NGO Front-Lex sues Frontex director Aija Kalnaja before the European Court of Justice and demands the immediate cessation of cooperation with the Greek Coast Guard. 

News from the Borders 12.10.2022 

  • In an interview with Welt TV, I explain why the extended border controls to Austria are probably against European law, the current numbers of arrivals via the Balkan route are no reason to panic, and we will not have a migration crisis if the EU states take their responsibility. You can find the 5-minute interview here.  
  • Omid Nouripour and Katharina Schulze also have a Guest article at t-online, in which they explain why internal border controls are the wrong way to go. 
  • In Thuringia, the day before yesterday, in the immediate vicinity of a refugee shelter, where 147 people who had fled from Ukraine live, there was a Arson

News from the Borders 11.10.2022 

  • With the "World Time" I have talked about my visit to Greece and the human rights violations at the EU's external border. The feature also deals with how the Greek government spies on opposition members and journalists.
  • The South German Newspaper explains again why the level of social benefits paid in the destination country is not a decisive factor for which country war refugees go to and why the argument of the "pull factor" is nonsense. 
  • Over the weekend, around 50 people were rescued from Maltese waters by the Libyan coast guard towed back to Libya again

News from the Borders 10.10.2022 

News from the Borders 7.10.2022 

News from the Borders 6.10.2022 

  • Two shipwrecks off the coast of Greece tonight have killed at least 20 people drowned. Today, the bodies of 15 women and a boy were recovered off Lesbos. Due to the illegal pushbacks, refugees are forced to take increasingly dangerous routes.
  • On the evening of June 24 at least 27 people died at the border fence in Melilla73 others are missing. Research suggests that Morocco deliberately escalated the situation and carried out a massacre to send a signal to Spain and the EU.  
  • Ten years ago, refugees occupied Oranienplatz in Berlin. To mark the anniversary, Angela Davis will speak on site today at 6:00 pm. You can find the program here.

News from the Borders 5.10.2022 

  • The Hessischer Rundfunk has accompanied us Green MEPs to the Greek external border and shows in his contributionhow the Greek authorities prevent us from our work, do not let us talk to refugees and do not let us to the border, although everything is financed with EU money. From minute 38 is reported about our visit.  
  • With a lie, the Passau district office summoned an Iranian prisoner and had him arrested. Now he is supposed to deported to Tehran â even though the biggest unrest there in years is taking place.
  • The Czech government will continue the current Continue border controls with Slovakiaalthough this contradicts the Schengen Agreement on internal border controls.

News from the Borders 4.10.2022 

  • This September alone, there have been 117 documented pushbacks in the ââ'¬â€œ ââ'¬â€œ ââ'¬â€œ affecting 3302 people. Since January 1, 2017, pushbacks of over 43,0 00 people have been documented. In the Aegean Boat Report you will find more details and figures.
  • The Heads of Government of Austria, Hungary and Serbia have met in Budapest and are working together for an illiberal and anti-human rights asylum policy. Pushbacks and serious human rights violations were not an issue at the meeting. 
  • To escape mobilization in Russia, many Russians fled to Georgia. A country that became a center of Russian migration due to the war.

News from the Borders 03.10.2022 

  • On October 3, 2013, a cutter with 545 people on board sank off Lampedusa. The Italian Coast Guard and local fishermen rescued 155 people, 366 were confirmed dead. The anniversary of this tragedy reminds us that sea rescue is a duty. Regardless of who is in power in Italy at the moment. 
  • The 88 from the âLouise Michelâ rescued people went ashore yesterday on Lampedusa. Already on Friday, nearly 80 people rescued by the âDoctors Without Bordersâ operated âGeo Barentsâ went ashore in the Italian port of Taranto.
  • During our visit to Greece, we Green MEPs met a country that deliberately builds a system of deterrence and lawlessness on lies and is rewarded for it with EU funds. You can find our joint report here.
News from September 2022

News from the Borders 30.09.2022 

  • In my Letter to the Commission I call, together with 34 other MEPs, for the EU to establish a coordinated mechanism for Russian dissidents and renegades. 
  • The Louise Michel rescued 88 people from distress at sea in the Mediterranean. 
  • Solidarity for Ukraine in Latvia is great. Elena Post is a Moldavian in Latvia and supports Ukrainian refugees in Riga. 

News from the Borders 29.09.2022

News from the Borders 28.09.2022 

  • CDU chairman Friedrich Merz has accused Ukrainian refugees of âsocial tourismâ, feeding base instincts and indignation. This is not a slip, but has been the right-wing strategy of the Union for years. The Tagesschau summarizes what Ukrainian refugees are getting and that it is No findings on social abuse gives.
  • In Greece, automated and EU-funded drones are to track people seeking protection as they cross the border starting in November. More details on the new surveillance technology can be found at Algorithm Watch.
  • Third country nationals from Ukraine are only granted protection in Germany under certain conditions. Many could be threatened with deportation.

News from the Borders 27.09.2022 

  • Sea Watch has a new ship and wants to continue rescuing people in the Mediterranean and entering Italian ports even after the victory of the far-right alliance in Italy. The taz has Mattea Weihe interviewed by Sea Watch.
  • The Greek government says they have prevented tens of thousands from entering the EU. How they did it, they do not reveal; because there is no legal way to prevent people from applying for asylum. The Frankfurter Rundschau reports about my visit to Greece
  • Czech Republic leads Border controls with Slovakia â for ten days for the time being. 

New from the Borders 26.09.2022

  • A quarter of Italy's voters have chosen a fascist party. Experts warn of more anti-refugee policies than in Greece. To find out why Brussels is worried, go to the Tagesschau.
  • After a girl was reported to have died at the Evros, there are increasing indications that the Government blackmailed the familyto change their statements. An NGO was pressured to make pro-government statements about the case.
  • In Germany, too, more and more voices are being raised that Asylum for Russian deserters demand. However, this would require a clear renunciation of isolation and pushbacks at the external borders of Eastern Europe. 

New from the Borders 23.09.2022

New from the Borders 22.09.2022

  • We should keep our borders open for fleeing Russian reservists and start an EU reception program. Since the partial mobilization, Russians of military age who resist participation in combat operations face up to ten years in prison. More on my demand at watson.
  • One year after the opening of the first Closed Access Center on Samos, the refugees who are housed there say that they are how animals are treated when they are put in jail...
  • The Border Violence Monitoring Network has launched its August Report about the violence against refugees in the Balkans and Greece.

New from the Borders 21.09.2022

  • We need a reception program for those who want to flee from Russia's neighboring countries before the mobilization. Those who cannot find a safe escape route now as reservists could soon be forced to shoot at our allies. My Twitter.
  • The federal government wants better protect queer asylum seekers. Bamf should no longer be allowed to require queer refugees to keep their sexual orientation or gender identity secret in their home country. 
  • The EU states try in many ways to ward off fugitives. The FR has the Location on different borders summarized compactly. 

New from the Borders 20.09.2022

  • This year alone, the bodies of 51 people have been found in the Greek border region. I met with Dr. Pavlidis, who is a volunteer in these cases, trying to find out for the relatives if their missing sons, daughters or parents are still alive. More about this with me on Twitter.  
  • âThatâs what we call a prisonâ â This video was made by a group of escaped women who talk about their reality of life on Lesbos. Watch the video here.
  • Violent pushbacks by criminal groups are taking place in Greece. A Affected person describes his ordeal in the Frankfurter Rundschau.  

News from the Borders 19.09.2022

  • I am now with a delegation of our group a few days on the Evros, in Athens and on Lesbos, to inform myself about the situation of the refugees. Currently, hundreds of people per week are illegally and often violently prevented from seeking asylum in Europe. Read more on my Twitter profile.
  • The Humanity 1 urgently needs a safe haven for its 398 rescued people, as drinking water is scarce. The Sea-Watch 3 finally landed in Reggio di Calabria on Sunday. Read more at SOS Humanity on Twitter
  • 13 aid organizations practice Sharp criticism of the admission program on Afghanistan

News from the Borders 16.09.2022

  • The European Commission has pledged €80 million to Egypt to keep people from fleeing. EU taxpayers' money should rather be used to prevent suffering and support refugees, not to pay dictators to keep people away. Statewatch reports on our request to the Commission.
  • After 13 long days, the Sea-Eye 4 finally gets a safe haven for the 129 rescued people on board. However, 843 people are still holding out on board the Sea-Watch 3 & Humanity 1 and their situation is deteriorating daily. Latest info at Sea-Watch.
  • Last Sunday I was at a Panel discussion on the topic "Exile-place-Germany invited. In conversation with the other participants, it became clear how dysfunctional the German bureaucracy still is when it comes to dealing with refugees.

News from the Borders 15.09.2022

News from the Borders 14.09.2022

News from the Borders 13.09.2022

  • The German Association of Cities sees Bottlenecks in the accommodation of refugees. The federal and state governments must work quickly to establish more decent housing, because otherwise there will be major problems in the winter.
  • Currently waiting 765 Rescued on theSea-Watch 3, theSea-Eye 4 and theHumanity 1 to safe harbor. This year, according to the IOM 1196 people drowned in the Mediterranean Sea or are missing. 
  • A study showsthat all children and young people who flee via the Balkan route experience violence and that the perpetrators are often police officers or smugglers. The inhumane conditions in many camps are also particularly traumatizing for children. 

News from the Borders 12.09.2022

  • The Greek government claims it could not prevent the death of 5-year-old Maria on the Evros River because they could not find the Syrian girl. A DW research now shows that this claim is not credible in view of the EU-funded surveillance system at the border. 
  • After eight months of war, more and more apparently flee Ukrainian men of military age. across the green border into Romania 
  • In the current inflation debate, refugees are rarely discussed, yet they are particularly hard hit

News from the Borders 9.09.2022

News from the Borders 8.09.2022

  • âNo more Moriasâ was promised by the EU Commission when there was a fire on Lesbos two years ago. This promise has been broken. Instead, people are systematically abandoned at sea and mistreated. I talked to the FR about the current situation on the Greek islands spoken. 
  • The Geo Barents was able to dock in Taranto, Italy, with 267 rescued people on board. Previously, the crew asked the authorities of Italy and Malta 17 times without success, according to their own information.
  • Horst Seehofer promised Italy to take in every fourth person rescued from distress at sea. Currently, the quota is just 0.2 percent

News from the Borders 7.09.2022

  • A four-year-old girl died in the hospital of Chania in Crete. She came from a boat that sent a distress call when it was on its way from Lebanon to Italy. Ant 1 reported (Greek).
  • Greece wants to extend a concrete and barbed wire fence on its northern border with Turkey many times over. The 40-kilometer-long fence is to be extended by another 140 kilometers be expanded. 
  • Yesterday saved The Humanity 1 from SOS Humanity and the Nadir from Resqship 111 people from distress at sea.  

News from the Borders 06.09.2022

  • The Interior Committee of the European Parliament yesterday refused to discharge Frontex because of its involvement in human rights abuses. A strong signal to the EU member states that perpetrate and cover up crimes against refugees.
  • This morning, a joint deportation flight took off from Munich to Islamabad, Pakistan, even though a large part of the country is flooded and millions of people had to flee to safety from the floods. The Bavarian Refugee Council criticizes the.  
  • At current report of the BVMN is about pushbacks from Northern Macedonia to Greece, deportations from Bosnia to Pakistan and mass deportations from Turkey to Afghanistan. 

News from the Borders 5.09.2022

  • Pro Asyl has awarded its human rights prize to the Polish lawyer Marta Górczyńska and the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights. who are particularly committed to helping people seeking protection on the Belarusian border. The laudation was held by the Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Luise Amtsberg (Greens).
  • The Ocean Viking has allowed 459 rescued people to land in the southern Italian city of Taranto.
  • Total 2.9 million people were registered as refugees in the German Central Register of Foreigners at the end of June.

News from the Borders 02.09.2022 

  • Alan Kurdi would have been ten years old today, but he died exactly seven years ago while fleeing to Europe. His death obliges us to this day to show solidarity with refugees, writes Uwe Becker in the taz.
  • The taz also summarizes the current situation on the Mediterranean Sea together and talked to me about what the traffic lights need to do now.
  • The Kenyan author Lorna Likiza applied twice for a visa to visit Germany â and got none. In the Frankfurter Rundschau she tells how humiliating the reasoning is for her.

News from the Borders 1.09.2022 

  • The Greek government is not only letting people die at their border, they are Now also massively attacks journalists, which report on it. 
  • At Riga bus station volunteers run a drop-in center for Ukrainian refugees. Most of them fled the occupied territories via Russia. 
  • Migration researcher Judith Kohlenberger is committed to legal escape routes and has recently written her book âdas Fluchtparadoxâ. In the Dissent Podcast she talks in detail about her research.
August 2022 news

News from the Borders 31.08.2022

  • A new Amnesty report documented Iranian and Turkish security forces firing on refugees from Afghanistan at the borders. At least 14 people were killed. Summary in the standard.
  • The U.S. had Afghan evacuees brought to Kosovo and promised to get them out soon. More than a year later many of them are stuck there
  • According to the UN, 6 million people in Afghanistan threatened by famine. A total of 19 million suffer from food insecurity. 

News from the Borders 30.08.2022

  • The death of Maria, a 5-year-old girl, is shaking up many people in Greece. She died because Greek authorities refused to rescue her at the Evros River. The parents blame the Greek government. The Spiegel reports (Paywall).
  • Greek government attacks Spiegel reporter Giorgos Christides because it reports on the death of Mary and the pushbacks on the Evros. EFSYN (Greek, but there is Google Translate and DeepL).
  • The Border Violence in a Report highlights several cases of pushbacks on the Evros River and shows their systematic nature. 

News from the Borders 29.08.2022 

  • While the 1992 attacks are being commemorated in Rostock, in Leipzig a Attack on a refugee residence have been perpetrated. 
  • The Ocean Viking of SOS Méditerranée rescued 466 people in the Mediterranean Sea and is waiting for a safe harbor. The Nadir of Resqship was able to bring 59 rescued people ashore in Lampedusa and also the Geo Barents of Médecins Sans Frontières and the Humanity 1 of SOS Humanity are currently on a rescue mission. Time Online reports.
  • Hundreds of people sleep in the open and the hygienic and medical care is poor. It is absolutely undignified how refugees are treated in the Netherlands. 

News from the Borders 26.08.2022 

  • In the Dutch asylum center Ter Apel, hundreds of refugees have been forced to sleep outside for days. Now a three month old infant died. Greens and Social Democrats demand clarification, the UNHCR describes the situation as "no longer acceptable". 
  • In Greece, people seeking protection demonstrate against the Eviction of the camp in Athens Eleonaswhere conditions were better than in other camps. The police responded with violence. 
  • As Answer to my inquiry the Commission has said it will provide €80 million in support to the Egyptian Coast Guard over the next two years to repatriate fugitives. 

News from the Borders 25.08.2022

News from the Borders 24.08.2022 

  • Since February 24, 2022, 967,546war refugees from Ukraine have come to Germany, at least temporarily. Of these, around 36 percent are children and young people under the age of 18. The Ministry of Interior informs.
  • Abdelkarim Bendjeriou-Sedjerari is fighting against his deportation because he fears for his life in Algeria due to his homosexuality. Nevertheless, the Administrative Court of Frankfurt dismissed his complaint. 
  • "Illegal migration: you will fail," reads one of the advertisements that Austria in eight countries of origin and transit to keep people away. Experts believe that such campaigns are pointless. 

News from the Borders 23.08.2022 

  • Pham Phi Son came to Germany in 1987 as a GDR contract worker and has now lived in Saxony for over 35 years. Nevertheless, he and his family are to be deported. Tens of thousands protest in an online petition against the decision of the Saxon Hardship Commission.  
  • The crew of the Geo Barents from Doctors Without Borders rescued 106 people from distress at sea and brings them to Sicily. 
  • Calls have been growing louder in the EU for weeks, no more tourist visas to people from Russia to be awarded. 

News from the Borders 22.08.2022 

  • They witnessed the pogrom of Rostock-Lichtenhagen 30 years ago. At Time Online they tell what they can't forget - and what became of them. 
  • From Germany in the first half of 2022, a total of 6198 people deported. The main target countries were Northern Macedonia, Albania and Georgia. 
  • The Greek government announced that it would extend the border fence with Turkey by 80 kilometers and has applied for financial aid from the EU for this purpose.

News from the Borders 19.08.2022 

News from the Borders 18.08.2022 

  • In Afghanistan there are still hundreds of local workers who are eligible for entry into Germany. 
  • Solidarity for Ukrainian refugees in Germany continues to be huge, but many volunteers are at the end of their tether
  • Australia holds people without valid visas in prison for an average of almost two years. At the end of April, 1,414 people were in detention centers, 61 % of them for visa cancellation.   

News from the Borders 17.08.2022 

News from the Borders 16.08.2022 

  • A year ago, the Taliban captured Kabul. In an interview with RND I call for the creation of an official focal point for persecutees to advise and process applications, to establish a reception program and reform the local staff procedure, and to develop a common strategy for Afghanistan as an international community.
  • The group of 39 refugees on an island on the Evros River has now been officially found by the Greek police. Previously, the Greek authorities refused a rescue, which led to the death of 5-year-old Maria. More info at Giorgos Christides on Twitter.  
  • Saxony wants to deport a former GDR contract worker from Vietnam who has been living in Germany for 35 years without a criminal record. He gets a lot of support, but the commissioner for foreigners remains stubborn. The taz reports.

News from the Borders 12.08.2022 

News from the Borders 11.08.2022 

  • VorRhodos are probably at least 40 people drowned. Because Greece systematically abandons and mistreats those seeking protection at sea, many now try to come directly from Turkey to Italy. This route is much longer and more dangerous.
  • Because Greece does not fulfill its legal obligations, the five-year-old Maria A. had to die on a Greek island in the river Evros. Der Spiegel has reconstructed the case (Paywall).
  • In Germany, statistically Two asylum seekers per day victims of attacksHowever, the number of unreported cases is probably much higher. Most of the acts are motivated by right-wing extremism. 

News from the Borders 10.08.2022 

  • I have a in-depth interview on the anniversary of the Taliban's takeover of Kabul led. What happened back then was a disaster for which we should be ashamed. I also talk about what needs to happen now and what has already changed under the new federal government. 
  • In the USA evacuated afghan:inside be able to obtain U.S. citizenship. Meanwhile, about 76,000 of them have entered the United States on temporary visas. 
  • At the Greek-Turkish border, Greek authorities systematically refuse to accept asylum applications. In one group is now probably a 5 year old died, because the authorities have not let the group leave the island on the Evros for days.

News from the Borders 9.08.2022 

  • You can watch the four-part documentary series "Kabul Airlift Mission"Watch it now in the ARD Mediathek. It is about the evacuation work of our NGO. 
  • In attacks in the Afghan capital Kabul over the weekend alone, more than 120 people killed or injured been.
  • Selenskyj has warned of a Chernobyl-like situation in view of the shelling of the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant.

News from the Borders 8.08.2022 

July 2022 news

News from the Borders 29.07.2022

News from the Borders 27.07.2022

News from the Borders 26.07.2022

  • Nearly 50 people seeking protection from Syria have been stranded on a Greek island on the Evros River since July 14, 2022. The European Court of Justice has ordered Greece to help the people. So far, the Greek authorities have not complied with this request, thus breaking EU law once again. 
  • The World Health Organization (WHO) has studied health care for people seeking protection in Europe and concludes that it is Deficient in many areas is. Among other things, the risk of illness, mental health problems and also the risk of death are significantly higher among pregnant persons than in the rest of the population. 
  • In the Mediterranean Sea, numerous people were rescued from distress at sea again in the last few hours. Thus rescued the Geo Barents of Doctors without Borders 52 people, the Ocean Viking of the organization SOS Mediterranee 80 people and now has a total of 387 survivors on board. 

News from the Borders 25.07.2022

  • In the last days hundreds of people were rescued by civilian sea rescue organizations in the central Mediterranean. Around another 1,000 people were rescued by the Italian Coast Guard, and several hundred landed independently on the island of Lampedusa. 
  • Because female teenagers in Afghanistan are not allowed to go to school, secret schools are springing up in the country. There learned and taught at risk of life
  • In the wake of the Corona pandemic, the Greek government has increasingly restricted the right to asylum in the country. The scientist Phevos Simeonidis explains in the RND article how the restrictions on freedom of movement came about and criticizes Greece's human rights violations at the EU's external border. 

News from the Borders 22.07.2022

News from the Borders 21.07.2022

  • Although the Taliban had officially pledged to respect human rights after taking power in Afghanistan, in recent months repeated serious violations of human rights known. A team of the United Nations has now looked at the situation on the ground and describes a disastrous situation. 
  • 33 people were sentenced yesterday in Morocco for trying to flee to Europe. 28 other people will stand trial at the end of July. 
  • Many Ukrainian protection seekers who had been accommodated in Germany or other countries are returning to Ukraine. The Story of three women and their motivations wrote the Spiegel. 

News from the Borders 20.07.2022

  • The federal government is planning a new "right of opportunity to stay", Hesse is already leading the way with this. Those who have lived lawfully in Germany for five years and reside in Hesse should already no longer be deported.
  • According to a Study by PICUMcommissioned by the Green Group in the European Parliament, 89 people in the EU were criminalized for helping protection seekers between January and March 2022 alone. 
  • For years, a Syrian family has been waiting to be reunited. The story of the al-Addays family shows that dysfunctional system of family reunification for protection seekers in the EU and thus also in which area we urgently need improvements. 

News from the Borders 19.07.2022

News from the Borders 18.07.2022

News from the Borders 15.07.2022 

  • Forensic Architecture today released a interactive mapwhich documents over 1000 crimes committed by Greek border guards in the Aegean Sea. Frontex is said to have been directly involved in over 100 of them. 
  • As of now, all eight parts of the Spotify podcast series "Memento Moria"and you can listen to it in one piece. I also have my say in it. 
  • The Würzburg Regional Court has Sister Juliana Seelmann from the Oberzell convent near Würzburg acquitted. Because the convent granted church asylum to two women from Nigeria to protect the women from forced prostitution, the nun was alleged to have committed a criminal offense. 

News from the Borders 14.07.2022 

News from the Borders 13.07.2022 

News from the Borders 12.07.2022 

News from the Borders 11.07.2022 

  • The crowded and littered Camp on Lampedusa is cleared. The problem here is not the moderate number of arrivals, but the poor distribution within Italy and Europe.
  • Frontex, together with the police agency Europol, is preparing a large-scale surveillance project at the EU's external borders. Why this is a holdover from Fabrice Leggeri and poorly compatible with fundamental rights, you can read in the Spiegel. 
  • On the Geo Barents Currently waiting 314 Rescued people on the allocation of a safe harbor. 

News from the Borders 8.07.2022

News from the Borders 7.07.2022

News from the Borders 6.07.2022

News from the Borders 5.07.2022 

News from the Borders 4.07.2022

  • In an interview, following new research on pushbacks in Greece, I called for "Germany should be a Call for infringement proceedings and, if the Commission remains inactive, initiate one itself."
  • Italy's parliament wants to grant minors from foreign families the Allow the acquisition of Italian citizenship. So far, they can only apply for it at the age of 18, even if they were born in Italy. Right-wing parties are up in arms against this.
  • At the Border between Jordan and Syria there are 10,000 refugees. There is hardly any help. Assad's troops besiege the camp and prevent access. 

News from the Borders 01.07.2022

  • The responsible EU Commissioner Ylva Johansson is finally urging Greece to end the pushbacks. So far, unfortunately, the Commission has remained inactive. 
  • At least three people have died during their flight to Europe drowned in the Mediterranean Sea. Three others are missing, eleven could be rescued. According to UNHCR at least 777 people drowned or went missing in the Mediterranean Sea in the first half of the year.  
  • Poland has completed the construction of the 187 kilometer fence completed on its border with Belarus.
June 2022 News

News from the Borders 30.06.2022 

  • Lithuanian authorities arbitrarily detain thousands of people for months in dilapidated detention centers under military command, where they are Torture and other ill-treatment are exposed. They are denied access to fair asylum procedures so that they return to the countries âvoluntarilyâ. 
  • The European Court of Justice condemns Lithuania for this action because it is a clear violation of the Procedures and Reception Directive and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU. 
  • This Study commissioned by the Green Group in the European Parliament analyzes the state of criminalization of solidarity with refugees in the European Union. 

News from the Borders 29.06.2022 

News from the Borders 28.06.2022 

News from the Borders 27.06.2022 

  • In Spain, an operation near Melilla is praised by the head of government, in which 37 people died are. Severely injured people were apparently tied up and not cared for, dead people were thrown into mass graves without being examined. It is an intolerable disgrace for Europe. 
  • The Syrian, Naima, who wanted to flee to Europe with her two sons, has been abandoned at sea by the Greek coast guard. The responsible Greek minister Notis Mitarachi lied to us MPs again today in Parliament and claims that such systematic pushbacks do not exist at all
  • The crew of the Ocean Viking rescued 66 people from distress at sea this morning. A total of 156 people are now on board the ship. Meanwhile, another 304 people are waiting on board the Sea Watch and 59 people on Louise Michel to a safe haven.  

News from the Borders 24.06.2022

News from the Borders 23.06.2022 

News from the Borders 22.06.2022 

  • The people of Afghanistan are suffering so much and now a huge earthquake with over 1000 dead. I hope that the international community will support the survivors and that humanitarian aid will be provided quickly. 
  • Over 900 rescued people urgently need a safe haven! They are waiting on the Aita Mari, Sea Eye 4 and SeaWatch4 to be able to go ashore and have their rights respected.More on the channels of Sea-Eye, SeaWatch and maydayterraneo.
  • In Uganda receive refugee families a hut and a piece of land at their disposal. The residents can thus provide for themselves and also have the right to seek other work or education. 

News from the Borders 21.06.2022 

  • The UN is significantly reducing food rations for refugees in Africa. For many people in East Africa, the Food rations halved. The World Food Program is short of money and the Russian war of aggression on Ukraine is causing food prices to rise. 
  • After the European Court of Human Rights Prevented deportations from UK to RwandaThe government of Boris Johnson is now considering breaking away from the European Convention on Human Rights instead of simply respecting human rights. 
  • Green youth spokesman Timon Dzienus and Green politician Tareq Alaows call for a Reform of the asylum policy and an end to the unequal treatment of refugees. 

News from the Border 20.06.2022

  • The Situation for refugeeswho want to come to the EU has been getting worse rather than better for about a decade. That's what I was talking about with Nd.
  • I talked to RND about the fact that the EU governments cynical and that there are double standards when it comes to refugees. 
  • On the occasion of World Refugee Day, my colleague, Luise Amtsberg, Human Rights Commissioner of the Federal Government, demands that the Admission program for Afghanistan implemented faster must be. 

News from the Borders 16.06.2022

  • Since today the third episode of the Spotify podcast series "Memento Moria" outside. In it you can hear, among other things, how I explain why the terrible conditions on the Greek islands are politically desired, how we make laws in parliament and what my two cats are called.
  • More than 100 million people worldwide are displaced â 42 percent of them children. Today, UNHCR launched its new report on escape The report with a lot of information and statistics can be found at here.
  • A journalist has worked with the Protection seekers on board the British plane to Rwanda spoken. People talk about everything from being picked up in their cell to having their flight canceled at the last second. 

News from the Borders 15.06.2022 

  • For the time being, Boris Johnson's Plan to fly protection seekers to Rwanda failedbecause the European Court of Human Rights has intervened. Asylum seekers â for example from Albania â are to be deported from the UK to Rwanda without asylum procedures. Instead of defending the right of asylum as an essential international responsibility, asylum foes such as Boris Johnson want to shift this responsibility away. Here a classification by Maximilian Pichl on Twitter.
  • The crew of theSea-Eye 4 performed three rescue missions... 416 people rescued from distress at sea. Not far from a rescue mission of Sea-Eye, in turn, a rescue mission of the Spanish rescue ship AITA MARI was disrupted by the Libyan coast guard, who have taken people remaining on the dinghy to Libya. 
  • Why do refugees from Ukraine return in the middle of the war? Because they are homesick - and because they feel everything can be better endured together in one placesays 22-year-old Darina Kostuchenko, who has returned to Kiev. 

News from the Borders 14.06.2022 

  • Today should be at 10:30 pm the first deportation flight with seven people from England to Rwanda take off. However, following a decision by the European Court of Human Rights, it is now unclear whether the plane will take off. The judges assume that the people would not have access to fair, efficient and constitutional procedures. 
  • Despite ongoing pushback in Greece, the government refuses to open an investigation and thus defies fundamental principles of the rule of law. 
  • 64 percent of Poles think their country should offer Ukrainian refugees protection until they can return to Ukraine. Almost 30 percent were in favor of allowing them to settle permanently in Poland. 

News from the Borders 13.06.2022

News from the Borders 9.06.2022 

News from the Borders 8.06.2022

News from the Borders 7.6.2022

  • People who have been living in Germany for five years or longer with only a toleration permit are to be given the opportunity in the future, to stay here permanently legally. This is an important point from the coalition agreement that we Greens have been particularly committed to. 
  • Federal Foreign Minister Baerbock has announced in Pakistan that it will bring additional former Afghan local forces of the German Armed Forces as well as persons at risk to Germany.
  • People fleeing the Ukraine war to Poland can move freely there. Other refugees sit there in Internment camps fixed.

News from the Borders 6.06.2022

News from the Borders 2.06.2022 

News from the Borders 01.06.2022

  • Russian menThose who evade military service do not yet have good prospects of obtaining the right to stay in Germany.
  • Roma refugees are accused, among other things, of not coming from Ukraine, because some no Ukrainian passports possess. However, such accusations fail to recognize the reality of life for Roma in Ukraine. 
  • The conference of interior ministers begins today in Würzburg. Human rights organizations call for a Deportation stop by the countries and rapid implementation of the reform of the right to stay.
May 2022 news

News from the Borders 31.05.2022

News from the Borders 30.05.2022

News from the Borders 25.05.2022

  • 75 people missing in the Mediterranean Sea. After a boat capsized with around 100 people fleeing to the EU, the Tunisian coast guard was able to rescue 24 people. More than 70 people are missing. 
  • The Sea Watch 3 sets off on its mission. After leaving Sicily behind, the ship & crew are now on their way to the Libyan search and rescue zone
  • The Dispute over refugee policy has overshadowed the meeting of ministers from the five German-speaking countries. Luxembourg promotes a more generous admission, Austria blocks. 

News from the Borders 24.05.2022 

  • A sailing ship of the German NGO Resqship has off the coast of Libya 75 people rescued from distress at sea. The people were handed over to the Ocean Viking, which now has nearly 300 rescued people on board after several rescues. Resqship stated that the Libyan coast guard had previously approached and demanded a handover of the people. The crew refused, citing international, European and German law.
  • As of today, refugees from Ukraine can submit their exchange Ukrainian banknotes for euro. Up to 300 euros can be exchanged per person. 
  • Refugees from Ukraine can immediately Hartz IV applications submit. Applications can also be submitted online. As of June, they will be entitled to Hartz IV benefits if they have a residence permit and are in need of assistance and capable of working. 

News from the Borders 23.05.2022

News from the Borders 17.05.2022 

  • Although it violates the case law of the European Court of Justice and the Federal Constitutional Court, the BAMF continues to cause Deportations of gay men in states where homosexuality is punishable by death. 
  • TheSea-Watch 4 has a safe harbor. Last night, authorities designated Augusta as the port of disembarkation for the 145 people the crew has rescued over the past two weeks.
  • On Saturday, Sicily will host the Trial against 21 sea rescuers for alleged trafficking will begin. It is the largest trial to date, and ex-Interior Minister Matteo Salvini is also involved. 

News from the Borders 16.05.2022

  • In Switzerland, a vote was held yesterday to decide whether the country should Expansion of Frontex and finance it. 71.5% voted in favor. The clear result also came about because the proponents of Frontex stoked fears that Switzerland would be kicked out of the Schengen area in the event of a "No" vote. 
  • In 2017, the Iuventa crew rescued a total of 14,000 people from the Mediterranean Sea. This week, a total of ten sea rescuers of the organization âYouth rescuesâ on trial in Italy.
  • Currently there are around 830,000 refugees from Ukraine in Germany. Currently, around 2,000 arrive every day, compared with 15,000 in mid-March. At the same time, around 20,000 refugees from Poland returned to Ukraine â including some from Germany. 

News from the Borders 13.05.2022 

News from the Borders 12.05.2022

  • In view of increasing repression by the Taliban, the Greens insist on a forced admission of people from Afghanistan in Germany.
  • Abdelfetah Mohamed comes from Eritrea and fled across the Mediterranean to Europe ten years ago. Today he is volunteer on the Ocean Viking and saves even people from drowning. (English)
  • A fire in a completely overcrowded Cypriot refugee camp has killed At least six people injured have been. The Pournara camp is intended for up to 1,000 people, but twice as many now live there. 

News from the Borders 11.05.2022

  • During his time as Frontex Director, Fabrice Leggeri has been increasingly radicalized. Spiegel reports how Frontex made this possible and what happened in the days and weeks leading up to his resignation.(Paywall)

English version (Without paywall)

  • Millions of Syrians are dependent on humanitarian aid, the War in Ukraine worsens the supply situation. At a Syria donor conference in Brussels, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Federal Foreign Office pledged 1.05 billion euros in aid for the coming years.
  • The Expert Council of German Foundations on Integration and Migration (SVR) has appealed to political parties and decision-makers to Working conditions for immigrants in the health care sector significantly improve. Without migration, the industry would face collapse. 

News from the Borders 10.05.2022

News from the Borders 5.05.2022

  • Yesterday we voted in Parliament on the budget of Frontex: with a majority of 492 votes, the budget was not released for the time being. The refusal of the budget discharge is an important call for the Reform of the Border Management Agency. Crimes at the external borders must finally have consequences in the EU again. 
  • Andrea Costa, who helped refugees at the train station in Rome and was on trial yesterday because of it, was acquitted. A victory for solidarity! 
  • Yesterday, the EU-funded Libyan coast guard has Sea-Eye 4 threatened and asked to leave "Libyan territory" even though they were in international waters. The Sea Eye rescued 57 people. 

News from the Borders 3.05.2022

  • The 101 rescued on board the Geo Barents have a safe harbor assigned and were able to go ashore in Sicily. The 295 people on board the Ocean Viking continue to wait for the allocation of a safe port. 
  • Glazier Andrea Costa has helped refugees at the train station in Rome get a place to sleep, a hot meal and medical care. Now he is threatened with Prison sentence for providing tickets to refugees for bus travel within Italy bought. 
  • In the future, Great Britain wants to Ship asylum seekers directly to Rwandano matter where they come from. There are already some refugees from Afghanistan living in the country. 

News from the Borders 2.05.2022

  • The Bundestag decided on Friday to extend the mandate for German soldiers to participate in the EU mission âIriniâ off the coast of Libya by one year. Unlike before, however, the training of the Libyan coast guard is no longer included.
  • Fast 400 people waiting on board the Ocean Viking and Geo Barents to its safe harbor. 
  • According to UNHCR 3,000 people died last year in an attempt to cross the Mediterranean Sea in the direction of Europe. The number of unreported cases is probably much higher.
April 2022 news

News from the Borders 29.04.2022 

  • After various lies, dozens of scandals, and thousands of pushbacks, must beFrontex Director Leggeri finally resigns. The fact that it took so long and that mafia-like structures became possible at Frontex is a scandal that goes far beyond Leggeri.
  • I had already called for this several times, most recently at the beginning of March when the Report of the EU Anti-Fraud Authority Olaf was presented. 
  • A deaf 17-year-old Briton was arrested by the police mistreated because he is black. The police put him in custody for deportation at Gatwick Airport and registered him as a Nigerian. The young man is a British citizen who has never left his home country.
  • The three young men charged in the El Hibu case in Malta have given their testimony on the crossing from Libya to Malta. The court has Your side of the events still not heard

News from the Borders 28.04.2022

News from the Borders 27.04.2022

  • The EU Commission has published the so-called Rule of Law Mechanism against the Government in Budapest activates what we as the Green Group in the European Parliament have been calling for for a long time. This could cut Hungary's financial support by billions. 
  • Great Britain would like Rwanda as a "deportation station and transport refugees there, although human rights are massively disregarded there. 
  • The border controls from Austria, which have been reintroduced and steadily extended since 2015, are, according to the Case law of the ECJ unlawful. A new threat is required for an extension, which did not exist. 

News from the Borders 26.04.2022

News from the Borders 25.04.2022

  • In the past few days several boats sunk off the Tunisian coast, with at least 26 people drowned. 320 fugitives were rescued. 
  • The United Nations World Food Program does not have sufficient funds and has had to reallocate them. Fayness Alpha lives in the Dazeleka refugee camp in Malawi and can now no longer feed their children
  • The Bavarian Integration Commissioner Gudrun Brendel-Fischer (CSU) wrote last week: "Ukrainian refugees do not need to be told how a washing machine works or that cooking is not allowed on the floor of the room." The Refugee Council reads the statement as if she distinguishes here between "civilized" European refugees and other "uncivilized" ones and demands her resignation.

News from the Borders 22.04.2022

  • There were over 10,000 documented pushbacks in the Aegean last year. The Pushback Report 2021 from Mare Liberum shows how normalized and commonplace brutal pushbacks at the border between Greece and Turkey have become.ND summarizes the findings here together.
  • 756 German officials, 11 Italian airplanes, 62 Bulgarian patrol cars and 101 Austrian deportation officers: AsktheState has researched how the individual European countries have supported Frontex in the years 2015 â 2021. 
  • Around the final report of the state parliament inquiry committee on the death of the innocently imprisoned Syrian Amad A. there are political dispute. The 1450-page report was published on Wednesday after three and a half years of investigative work. The SPD and the Greens cast a special vote and distanced themselves from the report.

News from the Borders 21.04.2022 

  • After the fire in Moria one and a half years ago, six Afghans were sentenced, yet there are justified doubts about their perpetration and the judicial process.The Guardian has written a longread about the criminalization of refugees and helpers and reworks the story of Moria. 
  • According to a court ruling, the Netherlands may no longer transfer foreign nationals to Croatia under the Dublin Regulation, without first conducting an examination of the factual circumstances.
  • At Explosions at a school in the Afghan capital Kabul at least six people were killed. Members of the Shiite Hasara, who are frequently attacked by the IS terrorist militia, live in the neighborhood.

News from the Borders 20.04.2022

  • Five million people were according to UNHCR displaced throughout Ukraine since the beginning of Putin's war of aggression. This is the largest movement of refugees in Europe since the end of the Second World War. 
  • The European Court of Human Rights ruled that refoulement of people to Greece is legal.What this means for the fight for human rights is discussed by Lore Graf and Maximillian Pichl in the Friday.
  • Poland welcomes millions of Ukrainian refugees - the Border with Belarus, however, Warsaw continues to keep closed. Concerned and activists report increasing violence. (paywall)

News from the Borders 19.04.2022

  • At Border river Evros a fugitive has been shot dead while trying to reach Greece from Turkey in a rubber dinghy.
  • Again and again people die while trying to cross the river Evros. from Turkey to the EU. The Greek government is doing everything it can to cover this up.
  • In Greece, after a shipwreck, one of the survivors faces over 200 years in prison & a father is arbitrarily charged for the death of his 6-year-old child. Here is all the info about their case and how you can support the Samos2.

News from the Borders 8.04.2022 

News from the Borders 7.04.2022

News from the Borders 6.04.2022 

News from the Borders 4.04.2022 

  • For years, the EU has been Detention centers for refugees financed. Now it has become known that at least one prison continued to operate even after the Russian invasion began.
  • According to UNHCR almost 100 people drowned on the flight to Europe after their completely overcrowded boat capsized off the Libyan coast. Four people could still be rescued. 
  • During his visit to Malta, Pope Francis took advantage of the History of St. Paul to draw attention to the situation of boat refugees and call for more compassion. He also spoke with the El Hiblu 3, who are currently being tried. 
  • The Pope with the El Hiblu 3
News of March 2022

News from the Borders 31.03.2022 

News from the Borders 30.03.2022

  • Numerous organizations call for The German government is calling on federal politicians to support deserters and conscientious objectors from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, especially Russians, who could otherwise be unintentionally implicated in crimes. 
  • The Libyan coast guard was also trained by the Bundeswehr. That is now a thing of the past. Instead, there is a Commitment to rescue at sea.
  • As of the reporting date December 31, 2021, approx. 1.95 million protection seekers registered in the Central Register of Foreigners with different residence titles. 

News from Borders 29.03.2022

  • Human rights experts stated yesterdaythat many Libyan detention centers for refugees continue to be sites of horrific systematic abuses, including crimes against humanity.
  • The Sea-Watch 3 is on its way to the central Mediterranean. 
  • If you want to become active in sea rescue yourself, you will find here free jobs and internships at Sea-Eye.

News from the Borders 28.03.2022 

News from the Borders 25.03.2022 

News from the Borders 24.03.2022 

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News from the Borders 18.03.2022 

News from the Borders 17.03.2022 

News from the Borders 16.03.2022

  • Salvini must stand trial for statements against sea rescuer Carola Rackete. The mirror reports about it.
  • The Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig ruled that the federal government may stop admission programs of the states for refugees.
  • Marina has made her house on the Polish border a shelter for refugees and is seen as a hero. Dorota did the same on the border between Poland and Belarus and could end up in prison for it. The Independent reports on the two women.

News from the Borders 15.03.2022

  • Priest Gábor Iványi was a confidant of Viktor Orbán, but now they are no longer friends. Today, Iványi cares for those whom Hungary's government does not want - and now also for Ukrainian refugees. Time Online has potraitted him.
  • Tens of thousands of people in Somalia are fleeing - from the drought that has taken away their livelihoods. And because of the war in Ukraine, even less aid is arriving than before. Der Spiegel reports in this video about the situation.
  • Omar fled Syria in 2015. Today he lives openly queer in Berlin-Neukölln. The story of a self-discovery. The Taz tells the story of his self-discovery.

News from the Borders 14.03.2022

  • The Greek Coast Guard rescued 101 people from a sinking boat on Sunday who were on a route from Turkey to Italy. Refugees are increasingly taking this long and deadly route because they face pushbacks and mistreatment in Greece. Tagesspiegel reports here.
  • In 2021, there were more fatalities than ever before on the so-called Atlantic route. DW discusses the backgrounds to this.
  • Europe distinguishes between good and bad refugees, and if the continent were as civilized as people here like to claim, everyone would be treated equally, says Mohamed Amjahid. You can find his text in the taz here.

News from the Borders 11.03.2022

  • Important ECJ ruling: Refugees who are to be deported may not be detained together with criminals. Learn more at Pro Asylum.
  • Geo Barents calls for a safe haven for 111 gerrette. 52 of the people are minors, the youngest being a four-year-old child. More on Twitter at MSF Sea.
  • Yesterday saw the release of the fourth of six episodes of the podcast "Inside Kabul Airlift." To be heard at Spotify.

News from the Borders 10.03.2022

  • I talked with Sally Starken and Ralph Ruthe on their podcast "Generally Educated" about how to help refugees from Ukraine now. You can listen to the episode here listen
  • Italy will start a trial against sea rescuers on May 21. A pre-trial hearing will determine whether charges of aiding and abetting unauthorized entry into Italy will be dropped or whether a years-long trial will begin that could end with a 20-year prison sentence. The statement of the Iuventa crew can be found at here.
  • Greece's practice of systematically rejecting asylum applications as inadmissible and referring protection seekers to Turkey blatantly violates EU law. RSA and PRO ASYL call on the EU Commission to initiate infringement proceedings against Greece. Background information at Pro Asylum.

News from the Borders 09.03.2022

  • For the deportation of a single person to Zimbabwe who was required to leave the country, the federal government last year spent nearly 198 775 € issued.
  • The 23-year-old Masouma Tajik fled from the Taliban to Kiev half a year ago and now had to flee to Poland again. The Guardian has spoken with her.
  • The Thuringian Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow advocates expropriating the yachts of Russian oligarchs and transferring them to Sea-Watch for sea rescue.

News from Women's Fight Day 2022 

  • Refugee women and girls are affected by gender-specific discrimination. On the occasion of International Women's Day on March 8, PRO ASYL and state refugee councils call for asylum procedures to finally be gender-sensitive and to ensure the protection of refugee women and girls in Germany. You can find the press release here.
  • Foreign Minister Baerbock expressed her appreciation above all for the women in Ukraine ahead of International Women's Day on March 8. âWe see you. We stand by your side,†she said in Berlin at an event on gender justice with activists from around the world. tagesschau.de reports.  
  • On Women's Day, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian women face persecution and sexual abuse. Women are particularly unprotected in times of war. This must change. Anastasia Tikhomirova's commentary at Zeit Online.

News from the Borders 7.03.2022 

  • About 5000 Afghans live in Ukraine, many of them hoped for a better life there. Now quite a few of them are fleeing the war - for the second time. Der Spiegel reports (paywall).
  • Doctors Without Borders rescued 31 people in the Mediterranean Sea yesterday. When Geo Barents reached the boat, it was already sinking.More about the rescue at MSF Sea on Twitter.  
  • Yesterday, hundreds of refugees demonstrated in front of the UNHCR headquarters in Libya. They denounce that the processing of their asylum applications has been pending for years and that some of them are thrown into prisons. Refugees in Libya on Twitter.

News from the Borders 04.03.2022

  • NGOs have been documenting pushbacks in Croatia for six years â in 2021 alone there were 9114, and in 2020 there were as many as 16,400. 16 European organizations condemn the actions in this statement.
  • Greek Migration Minister Notis Mitarachi referred to Ukrainians in parliament as "real refugees" and played them off against people from other states to justify Greece's unlawful treatment of refugees. Human Rights Watch criticizes him for.
  • Half a year after the Taliban took power documents the photographer Stefanie Glinski how the country has developed. 

News from the Borders 03.03.2022 

News from the Borders 02.03.2022

News from the Borders 01.03.2022

News from February 2022

News from the Borders 28.02.2022 

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News from the Borders 22.02.2022 

News from the Borders 21.02.2022

News from the Borders 18.02.2022

News from the Borders 17.02.2022

  • Greek border guards probably threw two men into the sea and killed them. Reports are mounting that the deaths of people are being accepted in order to avoid asylum applications. The Guardian reports without paywall.

News from the Borders 16.02.2022

News from the Borders 15.02.2022

News from the Borders 14.02.2022

News from the Borders 11.02.2022

News from the Borders 10.02.2022 

News from the Broders 09.02.2022

News from the Borders 08.02.2022

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News from the Borders 04.02.2022

News from the Borders 03.02.2022

News from the Borders 02.02.2022

  • The institution deals in its current issue with human rights violations by Frontex and presents a detailed fact check. 

News from the Borders 01.02.2022   

  • In this 20-minute film Isabel Schayani describes the current situation on the Polish border with Belarus for WDR and tries to explain how it could come to this.

January 2022 news

News from the Borders 31.01.2022

News from the Borders 28.01.2022 

01/27/2022: EU continues to fund Libyan coast guard +++ Endangered Chechen faces deportation +++ Commission considers Greek processing of asylum applications to be contrary to European law

01/26/2022: Seven people frozen to death off Lampedusa +++ Amnesty calls for release of Afghan women's rights activists +++ 439 on Geo Barents continue to wait for safe haven 

01/25/2022: Greek government leaves one-third of refugees on islands starving +++ 23 million people in Afghanistan at risk of hunger +++ Poland begins construction of border fence with Belarus 

  • The snow and freezing temperatures continue to have a firm grip on the refugee camps in northern Syria. The situation, which has already been critical, continues to worsen. The humanitarian catastrophe is just around the corner. Euronews reports in this short video.

  • The UNHCR issued an appeal yesterday, requesting $59.6 million for some 100,000 refugees from Cameroon and internally displaced people in Cameroon. The clashes in Cameroon began on December 5 in the village of Ouloumsa on the border with Chad and are also related to dwindling water resources due to climate change.

01/24/2022: Hundreds of people at Poland's external EU border still need help +++ 439 rescued on Geo Barents await allocation of safe haven +++ 16 EU states call for EU to fund border fencing

01/21/2022: Refugees at external borders not adequately protected from Corona +++ Three NGO ships rescue over 600 people in the Mediterranean +++ Snowstorms worsen refugee situation in Syria and Lebanon 

  • At the external borders, too little is still being done to protect refugees from Corona. Unfortunately, the pandemic is also being used as an excuse to close camps and restrict access to the press. I spoke to watson.de about the current situation.

  • The Geo Barents of "Doctors without Borders", which Mare Jonio of Mediterranea Saving Humans and the Louise Michel currently have over 600 people on board, whom they rescued from distress at sea in recent days. In several of these missions, the call for help of people in distress at sea had been received via the emergency hotline of the initiative „Alarm Phone“.

  • The Spanish Coast Guard rescued a total of 130 people from five boats in distress yesterday and in the morning hours and brought them to Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria. The largest rescue involved a boat with 62 people, which was still more than 80 kilometers off the coast of Fuerteventura. Cope reports (Spanish).

  • UNHCR is deeply concerned on the deteriorating situation of Eritrean refugees in the Tigray region. Those affected report twenty preventable deaths in the past six weeks. There is a lack of medicines in particular.

01/20/2022: Switzerland to hold Frontex referendum +++ Fabrice Leggeri honored by Greek migration ministry +++ Refugee councils publish multilingual asylum guide for refugees 

01/19/2022: Over 1500 dead on the central Mediterranean route in 2021 +++ First dead on the English Channel this year +++ Germany approved record arms exports in 2021 

  • The IOM lists more than 1500 dead or missing on the so-called Central Mediterranean Route in 2021. According to internal UN report 30,990 people had been intercepted by the Libyan Coast Guard and returned to Libya as of Dec. 14, nearly three times the number in 2020.

  • Restrictions on freedom of movement, dress codes, occupational bans: According to a UN report women in Afghanistan are systematically discriminated against and marginalized.

01/18/2022: Beating Croatian police back on duty after three months +++ Absurdly high prison sentences for refugees in Greece +++ Iraq flew nearly 4000 people out of Belarus 

  • In October, a research network reported about violent pushbacks at the EU's external border with Bosnia-Herzegovina and also published a video. On it, police officers could be seen systematically torturing refugees and beating them with a baton. In response, three intervention police officers were suspended, but they are now back on duty.

  • Behrouz Boochani fled persecution from Iran to Australia in 2013 and was detained there on Manus Island for six years. The poet and filmmaker took the Đoković case as an opportunity to write about it, How inhumane Australia's refugee defense is and how quickly the attention to the situation of those affected evaporates again.

01/17/2022: Interior Minister Faeser works on "coalition of the willing" +++ German government wants to take in more people from Afghanistan +++ More than 40 people presumed dead in Moroccan waters 

  • In order to end the blockade in EU asylum policy that has been going on for years, Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser wants a „Coalition of host member states“ forge. Such a coalition could move forward and thus set in motion the further development of the European asylum system, the SPD politician said after a meeting with EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson.

  • More than 40 people are presumed dead on the flight to Europe. There were 55 people on board a boat leaving the Moroccan town of Tarfaya, ten of whom were rescued. According to Alarm Phone, Moroccan authorities intervened only eleven hours after they were informed about the case. You can find the message at Copa (Spanish).

01/14/2022: HRW criticizes Germany for handling people from Afghanistan +++ Yemen needs $3.9 billion in humanitarian aid +++ Spanish coast guard rescues 73 people 

Jan. 13, 2022: 17 children pushbacked in the Aegean +++ Space Eye wants to use satellites for civilian sea rescue +++ Open letter calls for Dresden to be made a safe haven 

12.01.2022: "Pushback" is the unword of the year +++ Ocean Viking fixed again +++ Most asylum applications in Germany come from people from Syria and Afghanistan 

  • The "Unwort" jury criticizes the use of the term "pushbacks".because it "whitewashes an inhumane process" that deprives people fleeing their homes of the opportunity to exercise their right to asylum. According to the jury, the use of the term conceals the violence associated with the act of pushing people back.

Jan. 11, 2022: 600 refugees detained in Libya +++ UN says €4.5 billion in aid needed for Afghanistan +++ More than 35,000 people attempted to cross the English Channel into the United Kingdom irregularly in 2021 

01/10/2022: Thousands of refugees detained in Poland +++ Several bodies discovered in the Aegean +++ Frontex asks court to drop case 

Jan 07, 2022: New classification of Afghanistan by BMI +++ Doctors without Borders leaves Polish-Belarusian border region +++ Climate refugees in focus of Migration Policy Institute podcast

  • Many people from Syria are still missing from their relatives. With "Gone but not forgotten", the BBC has published a report on this topic. Here you can have a look at them.

Jan 06, 2022: 70 people illegally returned to Tunisia +++ Winter onset in Afghanistan poses major problems for people +++ Lithuania ends state of emergency on Belarus border 

05.01.2022: Over 11,900 pushbacks at the EU's external borders in 2021 +++ Woman dies on escape route from Afghanistan to Turkey +++ Escape across the English Channel up significantly in 2021

  • Over 11,900 pushbacks at Europe's borders were documented in 2021. More information can be found at Borderline Europe
  • A woman has died in a snowstorm on the Iranian-Turkish border after fleeing from Afghanistan to escape the Taliban. You can read more about the life-threatening circumstances of the escape route in the Mirror.
  • More than three times as many people tried to flee across the English Channel from France to Great Britain in 2021 as in the previous year. The background and what consequences are drawn from this, you can read at the ZDF read.
  • A total of 127 people have been rescued by sea rescue organizations in the last 24 hours, all of them trying to reach the Canary Islands. More in the Spanish-language newspaper EFE.
  • The Taliban are having mannequins removed from stores in Afghanistan, and some of them are having their heads chopped off. In the tagesschau you will learn the background.

Jan 04, 2022: More than 4,000 people drowned on Atlantic route in 2021 +++ Aid organizations criticize federal government's local forces procedures +++ People on Chios protest against closed camps on island

We are back from vacation and wish you all a happy and hopefully healthy new year!

Jan 03, 2022: 16 people drowned in the Aegean on Christmas +++ Sea rescue organisations save hundreds of people over Christmas +++ Germany to speed up admissions from Afghanistan 

News from December 2021

22.12.2021: Interview on EU refugee policy in Migazin +++ Analysis of the new Greek strategy on asylum policy +++ Press freedom in Afghanistan further restricted

We are taking a holiday. The next news will be on January 3, 2022. Stay healthy and come well into the new year!

21.12.2021: 6,000 Afghans still have to wait for entry to Germany +++ Situation on the Sea Eye 4 comes to a head +++ New self-help organisations founded on Lesbos

20.12.2021: New evidence of human rights violations at the EU's external border with Belarus +++ Activist reports on her flight to Kiel +++ State reception programme in Thuringia for Afghan relatives under discussion 

17.12.2021: Denmark wants to rent 300 places for people in detention pending deportation in Kosovo +++ Violence against refugees in Germany is not sufficiently recorded +++ Commission proposes tightening the Schengen Borders Code

  • According to a report by the Amadeu Antonio Foundation, the police crime statistics in particular do not reflect the current extent of right-wing extremist or racist incidents against refugees. There had been many cases where refugees had become victims of the most serious violence without the case appearing in the crime statistics or being made public in a press release. The brochure "Lives in Danger – Violence against Refugees in Germany" can be found at here.

  • The Commission has proposed to tighten the 2016 Schengen Borders Code to make it even more difficult for those seeking protection to access procedures based on the rule of law and to further criminalise migration and flight. The New York Times reports.

16.12.2021: SOS Méditerranée rescues 114 people and publishes annual review of sea rescue +++ UK fails to adequately support protection seekers who arrive +++ Up to 14 million children face hunger in Afghanistan

  • The Ocean Viking of SOS Méditerranée rescued 114 people from distress at sea this morning. In addition, SOS Méditerranée published its annual review of sea rescue operations for 2021, which shows that this year more people drowned in the Mediterranean and many more were brought back to Libya than last year. Here you can find the review of the year. 

15.12.2021: Between July and October only 2505 asylum seekers from Afghanistan and the Middle East arrived in Poland +++ More than 100 local forces murdered by Taliban +++ Taliban no longer allow federal government to fly charter flights from Kabul

12/14/2021: Former Danish integration minister sentenced to two months in prison +++ Trial of Salvini continues +++ Around 1000 people at border fence between Belarus and Poland

  • Hundreds of thousands of people from Haiti sought a better future in Chile. But now more of them are leaving the country than immigrating. Racism and hardly any chances for visas and work are driving them away - towards the USA. Der Spiegel took a look at the situation in Chile.

12/13/2021: Situation on the English Channel comes to a head +++ Libya drops refugees in the middle of the desert +++ Baerbock calls on Poland to allow humanitarian aid on Belarus border 

  • Mahmoud wants to go to England, like all the others from Iraq, Sudan and Eritrea. But for now they are stuck - on the French side of the English Channel. The taz was on site and talked to the people.

  • More than two weeks after a boat capsized in the English Channel killing at least 27 people fishermen have found a body in the net of their cutter off Calais.. Two survivors made serious accusations against British and French authorities. From their sinking boat they had alerted the French coastguard and the British police. Both had referred to the other side and no one had helped.

  • I spoke to WDR about pushbacks, the situation at the external borders and Lukashenko's blackmail. The basic problem remains that there is no common European refugee policy. You can listen to the interview here listen up.

10.12.2021: 15 EU states want to take in 40,000 people from Afghanistan +++ People seeking protection continue to die at the border with Poland +++ Frankfurt creates more places for LGBTIQ refugees

  • The body of a Nigerian man was discovered by Polish police on Wednesday. This is the 14th documented fatality on the Polish-Belarusian border. Five days earlier the Kurdish Iraqi Avin Irfan Zahir, mother of five children, died. The Süddeutsche Zeitung reports.

  • A sensational trial against two fugitive men is taking place in Samos. In an interview with "das Lamm", German activist Julia Winkler talks about the trial and why the discourse around smugglers does more harm than good. You can read the interview read here.

Dec 9, 2021: EU interior ministers:inside meeting on migration issues +++ Britain legalises pushbacks +++ Berlin takes in people, in Bavaria conservatives and right-wingers vote against state admission programme

  • The EU interior ministers meet today on the proper handling of refugees at the external border. The EU Commission has already granted Poland, Latvia and Lithuania the possibility under Article 78, paragraph 3, to restrict the fundamental right to asylum and to detain people for up to 5 months. Germany is no longer represented by Horst Seehofer, but by the new Interior Minister Nancy Faeser.

  • From 11 to 14 December, the second edition of the charity event „SOS SESSIONS“ will take place – to raise money for the mission of SOS Méditerranée. I will be there, too, and that's why I talked to Radioeins about sea rescue in the Mediterranean. You can listen to the five minute interview listen to it here.

  • Within the framework of the state admission programme, Berlin has 95 refugees received from Lebanon. These are people from Syria who are particularly in need of protection and who previously lived in Lebanon. Next year, 100 more people are to be taken in.

8.12.2021: Kabul airlift already evacuated 1000 people +++ Activists in Switzerland collect signatures for a Frontex referendum +++ In Belarus only about 7000 people still want to enter the EU

  • The 2-year-old Afat is the 1000th evacuee of the Kabul Airlift. I am very happy that through commitment and donations so many people could be evacuated in the meantime and hope that the new government will quickly take more responsibility for people in Afghanistan. Click here to go to the Homepage of the Kabul Airlift. In the Leaves for German and International Politics I wrote in detail how the German government abandoned many people in Afghanistan and then we founded the Kabul Airlift.  

  • Switzerland is not a member of the EU, but it is part of the EU border guard and also pays for Frontex. Now a referendum is being promoted asking whether Switzerland should increase funding for Frontex. If Switzerland doesn't, it would be tantamount to abandoning the Frontex system. The Republic reports and also talked to me about the issue.

7.12.2021: ECHR obliges Poland to take aid measures at Belarusian border +++ 600 people wait at Minsk airport to return to Iraq +++ The Guardian publishes a review of high-tech surveillance systems at the EU's external borders

  • The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has obliged Poland in several cases toThe judges ordered that the situation of those seeking protection at the border with Belarus be improved through emergency measures. In some cases, the judges ordered that the people be provided with food, water and clothing, that they be allowed to contact their lawyers or that they not be deported to Belarus. It remains to be seen whether Poland has complied with the orders.

  • Rebin, Heara and Bijan tried to cross the border between Belarus and Poland. They failed and were forced to return to northern Iraq. Soon they want to try again. Ze:tt spoke to them.

  • From military drones to sensor systems to experimental technology, the EU and its member states have spent hundreds of millions of euros over the past decade on technology to detect and stop people seeking protection at their borders. The border between Poland and Belarus is becoming the frontline for this technology after Poland last month approved a €350 million wall with advanced cameras and motion sensors. The Guardian has a Overview of the growing number of high-tech monitoring systems created.

  • Rohingya sue Facebook for $150 billion in damages. Facebook's algorithms allegedly fueled violence against Rohingya in Myanmar and their displacement. The UN had described the displacement of the Muslim-majority ethnic group from Myanmar in 2017 as genocide. 

  • In a conversation with ego-fm I explainedThe new Federal Government's plans for Afghanistan. Humanitarian aid is to be provided directly on the ground, and support is to be provided to neighbouring countries to create prospects for refugees there. The local forces procedure is to be reformed and legal and safe means of escape are to be created in order to prevent people from embarking on life-threatening escape routes out of helplessness.

6.12.2021: 38-year-old refugee from Iraq dies in Poland +++ Because of Corona two million migrants less worldwide +++ Pope visits Lesbos and calls for respecting human rights instead of building walls 

  • The Corona crisis has restricted mobility worldwide - with extreme consequences for migrants and refugees, as an IOM report shows. For the year 2020, the report counts around 281 million migrants worldwide - two million fewer than had been expected before the pandemic. The Mirror reports. You can find the IOM report here.

  • The Pope visited the new Moria on Lesbos. In his subsequent homily in Athens, Francis said it was bitter that there were still people in Europe who acted as if this problem did not concern them. Without naming individual states, he called for human rights to be upheld in dealing with refugees instead of building walls.

  • In Afghanistan according to Human Rights Watch over a hundred former security forces have been killed or disappeared. EU and US call on Taliban to grant amnesty to security forces. 

12/3/2021: Council of Europe Anti-Torture Committee publishes serious allegations against Croatia +++ Court rules: Asylum seekers may apply in Germany even if previously promised protection in Greece +++ Arrivals from Belarus decline

12/2/2021: EU Commission wants to make access to asylum at external borders more difficult +++ MEPs criticise prison-like refugee camps in Greece +++ Press freedom at EU external borders to be restricted

1.12.2021: Frontex translator pushed into Turkey by Greek border guards and mistreated +++ Around 10000 people still want to reach Poland via Belarus +++ Refugee councils demand stop of deportations to Ethiopia 

  • A Frontex interpreter reported that Greek border guards mistook him for an asylum seeker, assaulted him and then forced him across the border into Turkey along with dozens of refugees. He said he and many of the protection seekers he was held with were beaten and forced to undress, and that police confiscated their phones, money and documents. His attempts to tell the police who he was were met with laughter and beatings. The New York Times reports.  

News from November 2021

11/30/2021: Over a hundred security forces killed or disappeared in Afghanistan +++ New Yorker details Libyan torture camps +++ Greece opens closed camps on Leros and Kos 

  • The Taliban leadership had promised a general amnesty to former security forces. A report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) now documents over a hundred cases in which security forces have been murdered or disappeared. 

In this one-minute video, HRW describes the situation.

Here you can find the 25-page report by HRW (English)

Spiegel Online summarizes the results

11/29/2021: British police resist government pushback plans +++ Another death at Belarusian border +++ People take action in front of Reichstag demanding immediate reception of refugees at Belarusian border 

11/26/2021: Iraq brings back 617 more citizens from Belarus +++ Switzerland could soon hold a referendum against Frontex expansion +++ ECHR rules: Croatian police guilty in death of 6-year-old girl

  • A referendum against the expansion of Frontex could soon be held in Switzerland. As a member of the European Parliament's Frontex Inquiry Group, I spoke with them about problems and mismanagement at the EU's largest agency. You can read the interview here.

  • Madina Hussiny died at the age of six when Croatian police denied her and her family the right to apply for asylum in 2017, forcing them to return to Serbia on foot, where the girl was hit by a moving train. After four years of litigation, the European Court of Human Rights has now ruled that the Croatian police were to blame for Madina Hussiny's death. The Guardian reports.

11/25/2021: 27 dead in the English Channel +++ German government continues to fail to evacuate local Afghan forces +++ Human Rights Watch accuses Belarus and Poland of serious human rights violations

11/24/2021: 25-year-old Iraqi dies north of Guben +++ Poland, Lithuania and Latvia receive 200 million euros from the Commission +++ Belarus deports protection seekers to their countries of origin 

11/23/2021: Croatian police restrict press freedom by arresting German journalist +++ Greens demand reception of people at Polish EU external border +++ Sea-Watch 4 rescues over 480 people 

  • 32-year-old Abdullah Aryan came to Germany from Afghanistan on an evacuation flight. His escape almost failed due to German bureaucracy, but thanks in part to the Kabul Airlift, the former Bundeswehr and GTZ translator was able to be evacuated. He tells his story in Der Spiegel (paywall).

19.11.2021: Situation in Belarus still unresolved for many protection seekers +++ Sea Watch 4 rescues people from distress at sea and is threatened by Libyan coast guard +++ My interview with DLF Kultur on the trial of Sean Binder, Sarah Mardini and co. 

18.11.2021: Trial of sea rescuers in Greece postponed +++ Frontex helps deport Iraqis from Belarus +++ Ten people die in a wooden boat off the Libyan coast 

17.11.2021: Thousands of fugitives at the Polish border spent the night in a warehouse +++ World Organisation against Torture criticises criminalisation of human rights activists +++ In Greece, the detention of refugees is becoming the new norm

  • The World Organisation against Torture (OMCT) accuses Spain and Morocco of deliberately criminalising human rights activist Helena Maleno. The founder of the aid organisation "Caminando Fronteras" (Border Crossings), who lives in northern Morocco - is one of 20 cases from eleven countries examined in a report published in Geneva entitled "Europe: Open Season on Solidarity".
    You can find the whole report here.
    The taz reports about the attacks against Helena Maleno.
  • In Greece, the detention of refugees has become the new norm, criticize the Greek Refugee Council and Oxfam. According to EU directives, administrative detention should only be used when all other means have been exhausted. Escape is not a crime.

11/16/2021: Poland uses water cannon and tear gas against people seeking protection +++ Reports from the exclusion zone between Belarus and Poland +++ More than 84 million people fleeing worldwide 

  • This morning, Radioeins interviewed me about the situation in Belarus. In it, I say that we, as the European Union, must not allow ourselves to be blackmailed, nor must we suspend fundamental human rights, freedom of the press and our values, just because people are standing at our external borders and want to apply for asylum. You can listen to the 5-minute interview here.

11/15/2021: Liveticker on situation at Polish-Belarusian border +++ Kabul airlift rescues 148 people on donor-funded plane +++ Eight people die off Canary Islands 

  • People have run from the temporary camp in Belarus to the border crossing and are now face to face with Polish border guards. EU foreign ministers are meeting in Brussels to discuss further sanctions against Belarus and dictator Lukashenko now claims he is trying to repatriate people to their home countries. Iraq is also offering a first repatriation flight for people on the Belarusian-Polish border. The Frankfurter Rundschau has created this news ticker to keep you up to date.

  • I am convinced that, in this situation on the Belarusian border, we must rely on a coalition of states that are willing to accept people, which must, of course, include Germany. We also need safe and orderly escape routes so that people no longer have to rely on smugglers in future and a system of state smuggling, as operated by Lukashenko, no longer attracts so many people. I spent half an hour talking to the Tagesschau about possible solutions....

12.11.2021: Thousands of people at the border to Poland urgently need help +++ taz and Spiegel show how Lukashenko operates state smuggling +++ Bulgaria is also increasingly becoming a transit area for refugees 

11/10/2021: Green MPs on Belarus border +++ Afghan air traffic controllers sue federal government +++ Pastor sentenced for church asylum 

09.11.2021: On the day of the fall of the Berlin Wall, activists bring relief supplies to the EU's external border +++ Seehofer calls for a new iron curtain in Europe +++ Poland uses tear gas against people seeking protection

  • On the day the Berlin Wall came down, Interior Minister Horst Seehofer called for Poland not to be criticized for protecting its borders "with permissible means" despite its serious human rights violations and illegal pushbacks. He also welcomed the construction of a fortified border fortification...However, Seehofer will not be Interior Minister for much longer.

11/05/2021: At least three dead around Calais +++ Belarusian soldiers threatened to shoot at Polish soldiers +++ MEP watches pushback by Greece 

  • The Taliban banned the use of all foreign currency on Tuesday. They are reacting to the shortage of foreign currency in the country, which was triggered by de facto sanctions. The US government, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and European central banks froze Afghan foreign assets after the Taliban took power. 

  • The rescue ships Sea-Eye and Rise Above of Mission Lifeline received a distress call from the AlarmPhone on Tuesday night. By Tuesday morning, the crews of both ships were able to save 325 lives from a total of 5 boats. Earlier in the morning, the two ships were called to another sea rescue case involving 72 people crowded on a wooden boat. There are now 397 survivors aboard the Sea-Eye 4. Read more at the Homepage the Sea-Eye and at Sea-Eye on Twitter.

News from October 2021

29.10.2021: Kabul airlift evacuates 579 people +++ 75 percent of Afghans who appeal against rejection of asylum application are proven right in court +++ Saxon police discover body of Iraqi refugee 

10/28/2021: Germany abandons thousands of local workers +++ Kretschmer (CDU) promotes border wall +++ Doctors Without Borders brings 367 rescued to Palermo 

Oct 27, 2021: Four children drowned in the Aegean +++ Doctors Without Borders rescues 367 people and needs a safe haven +++ Poland allows pushbacks by law

10/26/2021: Poland increases number of soldiers to 10,000 +++ Commission won't fund walls at external borders +++ Mediterranean route shifts to Calabria

10/25/2021: EU gives 276 million euros to Greece for new Morias +++ In Brandenburg, neo-Nazis call for hounding of refugees +++ Greens call for distribution of protection seekers arriving in Poland

10/22/2021: Body of Syrian refugee discovered at border with Belarus +++ EKD welcomes "change of lane" and calls for more active naturalization culture +++ Sea Watch 3 assigned safe haven 

21/10/2021: Socialists call for infringement proceedings over pushbacks +++ Council of Europe also calls for end to pushbacks +++ Asylum seeker sues Frontex 

20/10/2021: Polish Prime Minister in the European Parliament +++ Seehofer wants to support Polish police despite human rights violations +++ Two dead refugees discovered in Austria  

19.10.2021: Protests against pushbacks in Poland +++ Protection seekers continue to freeze and starve at the border with Belarus +++ Thousands hold out in Tripoli outside UNHCR building 

18.10.2021: Sea-Watch 3 rescues 120 people +++ First reception centres in Brandenburg full to capacity +++ EU wants to give Libyan militia ships for refugee defence 

15.10.2021: EU supports Libyan coast guard +++ Poland erects "barrier" to Belarus +++ French government calls for migration deal with UK 

10/14/2021: Repatriation of people rescued at sea to Libya is a crime +++ German Foreign Office uses extortionate methods against family reunification +++ 10,000 more displaced in Yemen 

13.10.2021: Thousands of protection seekers are taken to Libyan torture prisons +++ At least 15 people drown off Libyan coast +++ Protection seekers reach Brandenburg

10/12/2021: Right turn in Turkish refugee policy +++ Croatian government admits mistreatment of protection seekers +++ 348 people rescued in the English Channel 

11.10.2021: UN report paints shocking picture of situation in Libya +++ 12 ministers from member states demand money for border fences +++ HRW report on criminalisation in Greece 

08.10.2021: Monitoring mechanism will not prevent pushbacks in Croatia +++ EU Commissioner Johansson announces investigation into pushbacks +++ Report traces how sea rescue is criminalised 

7.10.2021: New videos of brutal pushbacks by Croatian border police +++ Greek and Croatian special forces are used for pushbacks +++ Poland carries out pushbacks quite openly 

  • New research showsthat the illegal rejections by Croatia are systematic and state-organised and also take place by force. A research team has filmed and evaluated pushbacks. The brutal operations are also supported with money and material from the European Union and the German government. Der Spiegel did an even bigger piece on the subject (paywall).
  • Not only in the Balkans, but also in Greece, according to the findings, human rights violations at the external borders occur again and again. Der Spiegel has investigated who is responsible for the human rights violations at the EU's external borders and comes to the conclusion that special police units are systematically used for this purpose. You can also find the detailed report in Spiegel (paywall).
  • In the border area between Poland and Belarus, people on the run are being instrumentalised as pawns between politicians. Belarus brings them there by force and the Polish border police uses illegal pushbacks to prevent them from applying for asylum in the EU. The journalist Franziska Grillmeier describes in her report for the Tagesspiegel (paywall) the situation.  
  • On their way to the USA, they covered thousands of kilometres and crossed the almost impenetrable Darién jungle between Colombia and Panama. Now their dream of the USA has been shattered. They are back in Haiti. The NZZ visited them on site (paywall).

6.10.2021: There was no pull effect from Merkel in 2015 +++ U.S. announces record low in refugee admissions +++ Smuggling gangs on the English Channel growing more powerful 

5.10.2021: Interview on the situation at the Polish-Belarusian border +++ Crimes against humanity in Libya +++ Camps on Greek islands emptying out 

  • Franziska Vilmar from Amnesty International and I spoke with Detektor FM about the situation of refugees on the border between Poland and Belarus. People's lives are at stake there and we must finally take action. You can listen to the ten-minute piece listen here.
  • An United Nations Commission of Inquiry in Libya says it has strong indications of War Crimes as well as for crimes against humanity in prisons and against refugees. 
  • On Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Leros and Kos, the Greek government still registered 4490 people at the end of September. In 2020, the number was just over 40,000 for several months. Most of them are still in Greece, sent to Athens by the Greek government, where many end up homeless due to lack of support. Another reason why the numbers are so low is the systematic pushbacks by the Greek coast guard, preventing people from reaching the islands at all.
  • Horst Seehofer's time as interior minister is coming to an end. His term of office includes numerous tightening of asylum laws, detention pending deportation and a blockade attitude towards the admission of refugees. PRO ASYL summarizes, in which areas intolerable conditions became the new normality under Seehofer.
  • For years Turkey has taken in millions of people seeking protection from Syria and other crisis regions - also at the request of the EU. But now the government is taking a radical turn in its refugee policy and wants to get rid of refugees again instead of taking in more refugees from Afghanistan. Deutschlandfunk has produced this 19-minute feature on the subject.

4.10.2021: People drowning on Atlantic route +++ German government calls for humanitarian aid for refugees at Polish EU external border +++ Refugees from war zones arrive at German border with Poland

1.10.2021: Domenico Lucano sentenced to 13 years imprisonment +++ Poland extends state of emergency +++ BGH rules that adults may not be adopted to prevent deportation +++ 

News from September 2021

30.09.2021: EU Commission to crack down on smugglers +++ Amnesty accuses Poland of pushbacks +++ Poland sends SMS to deter fugitives

09/29/2021: Polish police proudly announce human rights abuses +++ 17,000 people reached England irregularly across the English Channel this year +++ US government raises cap on refugees

09/28/2021: Poland to extend state of emergency +++ 16-year-old Iraqi dies after pushback from Poland +++ Mediterranean states advocate EU distribution mechanism

27.09.2021: I spoke to Deutschlandfunk about the lack of solidarity at the Polish EU external border +++ 122 people rescued by the Ocean Viking go ashore +++ 2021 at least 1392 refugees killed while trying to cross the Mediterranean. 

09/24/2021: Another death at the border with Belarus +++ Frankfurt am Main becomes a safe haven +++ Turkish refugee policy becomes more restrictive 

23.09.2021: "Cologne Declaration" criticizes EU refugees +++ 30 documented cases of pushbacks on Balkan route in August +++ Mounted U.S. Border Patrol agents chase refugees from Haiti 

  • More than 80 celebrities from art, science and politics practice in the "Cologne Declaration" harsh criticism of the European Union for its treatment of refugees. The letter was initiated by IIPM, LeaveNoOneBehind, Sea-Watch, Seebrücke, ECCHR, Equal Rights Beyond Borders, medico international, School of Political Hope and NTGent. 
  • The Border Violence Monitoring Network has published its report for August. It documents 30 pushbacks on the Balkan route alone, affecting 324 people. It also deals with violence against refugees from Afghanistan and the use of sexual violence by the Croatian side. You can download the 21-page report here read.
  • Images of mounted U.S. border patrol agents hunting refugees from Haiti cause uproar. The US government announces an investigation.
  • Asylum seekers in Samos move into the new mass camp. The EU Commission and the Greek government are celebrating the camp as a new era of "migration management". But the people would rather not stay in Samos at all - they want a normal life at last. Deutsche Welle accompanied them and made this short film.
  • Currently Greece builds a 40-kilometer wall along the border with Turkeyplus a surveillance system with cameras, radar and drones. The main aim is to keep people out of Afghanistan.

22.09.2021: Dead Iraqi woman presumably dragged from Poland to Belarus +++ Conditions in Bosnia-Herzegovina still inhumane +++ The taz presents my book

Sep 21, 2021: People die at Polish external border, but Merkel does not criticize Poland +++ Polish president speaks of refugees as "organizing storm attack" +++ Millions of people in Germany may not vote on Sunday

20.09.2021: Four people died at border with Belarus +++ Fire broke out on Samos +++ New mass camp set up on Samos, resembling a prison

17.09.2021: Greece seals itself off even more +++ New mass camp on Samos +++ Mosaic of 48,000 should make clear: Human rights are #none negotiable

  • Greece is building a fence on the Turkish border to keep out refugees. The fact that more people fleeing the Taliban could now be arriving doesn't seem to interest the authorities there. DW reports.
  • Greece opens a new camp on the island of Samos. Residents and critics speak of an "open-air prison". 
  • Seebrücke, Sea-Watch and #LeaveNoOneBehind demand a future federal government for which the following applies: Human rights are #nonnegotiable. For this they have created a mosaic of 48,000 individual images in front of the Bundestag. You can see the impressive picture here.
  • In Bottropp, people are fighting for the city to join Seebrücke's "Safe Harbours" initiative. The Waz reports.
  • An Iranian asylum seeker is to present his passport at the Starnberg immigration office - and gets deported by return mail. This is not an isolated case for the Helferkreis.

Sep 16, 2021: Von der Leyen calls refugees 'hybrid attack' +++ Spanish coast guard rescued 225 people yesterday +++ Mexico stops people heading to U.S. 

  • Ursula von der Leyen (CDU) described refugees currently arriving in Poland and Lithuania as a "hybrid attack to destabilise Europe". That's what she said in her State of the Union address yesterday, and that choice of words is absolutely wrong. It is true that Lukashenko is exploiting people to put pressure on the EU. But these people are not weapons and ammunition and that is why we should not speak of a "hybrid attack." The RND has the main points of the speech summarized here. You can listen to the whole speech watch here.
  • The Spanish coast guard rescued 225 people from distress at sea on Wednesday alone. The people were spread across six boats off the islands of Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Tenerife. The news at this at the Spanish news agency EFE.
  • In the south of Mexico, in the border town. Tapachula again many people are waiting to be able to move on towards the USA. They accuse the authorities of brutally stopping them and suspect a deal with the US.
  • Thousands of refugees cross the Alps between Italy and France every year. On both sides of the border there are people who engage in nightly rescue operations for the refugees. In the process, they themselves become the target of the border police. BR accompanied the people and produced this 21-minute radio feature.

15.09.2021: Salvini in court +++ British Home Secretary threatens pushbacks +++ Refugee children in Greece denied basic right to education 

14.09.2021: According to the World Bank, 200 million people could lose their homes by 2050 because of climate change +++ EU Commission blocks funds to Greece +++ In Greek camps, the situation for people with disabilities is particularly hard 

09/13/2021: 126 people rescued from the English Channel +++ 32 Afghan refugees continue to be detained at Poland's external border +++ Sea Eye rates political parties on their attitude to sea rescue

10.09.2021: British government threatens pushbacks in the English Channel +++ 30 Afghans have been stuck at Poland's external border for weeks +++ 120 people are rescued off Lampedusa

  • The British government wants to rely on pushbacks in the English Channel in future and openly admits this - even though they violate current law. People trying to get from France to England will simply be turned back, which can put people's lives in danger at sea.
  • The Polish government has sealed off the border region with Belarus. The media and human rights activists are not allowed to enter. 30 people from Afghanistan have been stuck there for weeksbecause they can neither return to Belarus nor enter Afghanistan.
  • The Italian coast guard yesterday rescued more than 120 refugees from distress at sea off the island of Lampedusa. The people were stranded on a reef in the morning due to bad weather conditions, the Coast Guard said.
  • The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has backed parents of refugees. The court ruled yesterday in favor of a man who had based his asylum application on the protection status of his son, that is, wanted family reunification. This was controversial because the son had reached the age of majority.

Sep 09, 2021: Interior Ministry delays evacuation and procedures of people from Afghanistan +++ Pakistan deports hundreds of Afghans +++ At least 509 people died fleeing to Canaries in August

  • For weeks there have been promises to evacuate people, but the processes at the Home Office are being dragged out. No one from the Foreign Office lists has yet been promised admission. Even people from German lists who have been evacuated are being forced to travel on to the USA. The people in Afghanistan - including German nationals - are simply being abandoned. Please watch and share my video.
  • Rescued Afghans are flown to the USA from Ramstein. Against their will. German authorities look on and do nothing. 
  • After the Taliban took power in Afghanistan, many people fled to neighbouring Pakistan. Hundreds of fled Afghans without travel documents have now been deported again. The government pointed to insufficient capacities and called for more international involvement.
  • The UN says it receives daily reports of violations of women's rights in AfghanistanAccording to the report, women are forbidden to go to work or leave their homes without a male escort. There were also complaints about attacks on girls' schools and centres that help women fleeing violence in the country. The Taliban had presented 33 members of the government on Tuesday, including not a single woman and no one from any other political group.
  • In August alone, according to the NGO "Caminando Fronteras", at least 509 people died during the crossing to the Canary Islands. This makes the Canary Islands route currently the deadliest in the world, ahead of the central Mediterranean route. The German-language weekly summarizes the reports. You can get more information in the Spanish-language El Día from Tenerife.
  • I spoke to Puls 24 about the inhumane conditions in the Moria camp and explained why the Austrian government can't simply decide that it won't take in any more refugees now. And why the Greek government can't just lock people up in mass camps. You can watch the nine-minute interview with me at see here.

09/08/2021: German schoolchildren still stuck in Afghanistan +++ Heiko Maas must finally explain why evacuations were not carried out in time +++ One year after the fire in Moria, Greece and the EU Commission have failed to keep their promises

Sep 07, 2021: German government warned early of rapid collapse in Kabul +++ People protest in Kabul against Taliban +++ Syrian refugees abused and disappeared after return

  • The German government always stresses that the rapid Taliban victory came as a surprise. However, it had already received a warning from the USA at the beginning of August to prepare for an emergency in Afghanistan. The Greens are calling for a parliamentary committee of inquiry into the events surrounding the withdrawal. Der Spiegel revealed (paywall)..
  • Hundreds of people took to the streets of Kabul today to demand women's rights and demonstrate against the Taliban.. The Taliban broke up the protests by starting to shoot in the air.
  • Even after the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban, the Federal Government wants to insist that applicants for family reunification learn German in their home country. In August, there were 4,173 Afghans on the "appointment waiting lists" to apply for family reunification. The taz reported exclusively.
  • Syrian intelligence services have detained, tortured and disappeared refugees and Syrians who have returned home, according to Amnesty International. According to a report published by the human rights organization, Syrian intelligence agents committed serious human rights crimes against 66 returnees, including 13 children. Under these circumstances, it is completely unacceptable to discuss deportations to Syria. tagesschau.de summarizes the study. The complete study can be found on the homepage of Amnesty International.
  • Germany has failed in its evacuation from Afghanistan, writes lawyer and Green politician Tareq Alaows. He himself fled Syria in 2015, writes about his experiences and demands that the German government take responsibility for the people from Afghanistan. You can read his text at Zeit Online.

06.09.2021: Taliban say they conquer whole of Afghanistan +++ Spiegel interview with Kabul airlift +++ Sea Eye 4 brings 29 rescued to Sicily

03.09.2021: Seehofer rejects Thuringia's state admission program for Afghans +++ Berlin wants to admit more local forces from Afghanistan +++ Poland imposes state of emergency on border and restricts press freedom

02.09.2021: Refugees from Afghanistan face closed land borders +++ Turkey seals itself off from fleeing Afghans with a wall +++ Sea Eye 4 rescues 29 people from distress at sea

  • After the end of the airlift from Afghanistan, many people dare to flee by land: at the Islam Kala crossing alone, on the border with Iran, thousands of people are crowding in. At the border with Pakistan, many people are standing in front of closed borders. Read more about which countries want to take in people seeking protection from Afghanistan and which don't, at Time Online.
  • The Turkey is currently building a 300-kilometer border wall with Iran - especially to stop protection seekers from Afghanistan. This means that this escape route is now also closed to many people seeking protection from Afghanistan.
  • The President of the European Parliament, David Sassoli, has criticised EU states for their attitude towards Afghan refugees. He expressed "great disappointment" on Wednesday at the outcome of Tuesday's special meeting of EU interior ministers, which agreed on compartmentalisation.
  • The Sea-Eye 4 rescued 29 people from a wooden boat in the Mediterranean Sea. Among them were eight women, two of whom were pregnant, and four babies. If you want to stay up to date with the missions, then follow Sea Eye on Twitter.
  • The taz has visited some of the activistswho planned the airlift mainly from a Berlin apartment and gives an insight into their work.

01.09.2021: Kabul airlift is a great success with rescue of 209 people +++ EU Council and Commission do not want to make concrete commitments to take in people from Afghanistan +++ Afghanistan's neighbouring countries do not want to take in people seeking protection from Afghanistan

News from August 2021

08/31/2021: German diplomats tried to force Kabul airlift plane not to evacuate anyone +++ Pakistan's ambassador calls on other countries to take in refugees from Afghanistan +++ EU interior ministers discuss situation in Afghanistan today

30.08.2021: Kabul Airlift Update +++ The German Foreign Office lies about the Kabul Airlift.de +++ More than 10,000 people were left behind in Afghanistan despite guarantees of admission from Germany

27.08.2021: Many dead in Kabul airport attack +++ Evacuation flights end +++ Greece plans deportation law that violates international law

08/26/2021: Situation in Kabul remains dramatic +++ How the election campaign determined definitional issues for local forces +++ Greece disregards health of protection seekers

  • The situation at Kabul airport remains dramatic. In a few days, evacuation flights will be halted. More info from on the ground has tageschau.de.
  • Questions about political responsibility for the disaster are growing louder. In a Report of the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland it becomes clear how the decisions of those politically responsible have an impact on the ground and what the consequences are for the people. 

  • In several cases, the European Court of Human Rights has recognized the Greek authorities' ongoing disregard for the health and lives of protection seekers in the Mavrovouni camp. Read more at the Legal Centre Lesvos.
  • A boat accident off the Canary Islands has left 52 people drowning as they try to flee to Europe. Learn more at t-online.
  • Conservative and right-wing politicians link the current situation in Afghanistan with a discussion about internal security in Germany. Current research shows that this has nothing to do with each other. More on this at the TIME

25.08.2021: German Armed Forces accused of failing to provide assistance +++ UN accuses Taliban of serious human rights violations +++ People entitled to family reunification are left behind in Afghanistan 

  • There will not be enough time for the airlift to fly out all those in need of protection. The sponsorship network of Afghan local forces of the Bundeswehr accuses the Federal Government of failing to provide assistance. Angela Merkel was also responsible.

08/24/2021: Fundraising for charter flight to Kabul underway +++ 300,000 signatures for safe escape routes +++ Human Rights Watch calls for internationally coordinated reception of refugees

23.08.2021: EU disputes admission of protection seekers from Afghanistan +++ Civil society demands immediate admission +++ Greece continues to seal itself off

  • In an interview with the Deutschlandfunk Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn has called for admission quotas within the EU, noting that while human rights are always used as rhetoric, they are never acted upon. Meanwhile, the Slovenian leaderswho is currently also EU Council President, for not helping people in Afghanistan. 
  • Civil society has long been calling for a human rights-based refugee policy. Despite heavy rainfall in some places, thousands of people demonstrated in Germany over the weekend in favour of accepting people seeking protection from Afghanistan. More on this has been published by the Deutschlandfunk
  • According to its own information Greece has completed a 40 km long border fence on its land border with Turkey. Heavily guarded and equipped with the latest surveillance technology, it is intended to ensure that fewer people have a chance to apply for asylum in the EU. Reuters knows more.
  • The debate over taking in people from Afghanistan clearly shows that, due to the blocking attitude of some member states, the EU has failed for years to develop a common plan for taking in people seeking protection. Politico has the here summarized. 
  • The sea rescue ship GeoBarents from the Organization Doctors without Borders has a safe harbor and can bring the 322 people rescued from distress at sea to Augusta.

20.08.2021: BND warned already in December 2020 +++ Taliban kill more people in search of journalists +++ Greece plans to suspend asylum law again

  • There is growing evidence that many agencies have long warned of the rapid collapse, but that was politically ignored. Among others, the Federal Intelligence Service warned the Federal Government already in December 2020. The report on this can be found in the Mercury.
  • Meanwhile, it turns out that the Taliban's press conference was, as expected, more play than reality. Journalists in Afghanistan are being hunted down and people are being killed. Reuters has more information.

  • While thousands of people fear for their lives in Afghanistan, the EU is discussing how best to avoid having to help them. The Mirror has researched what plans Greece, among others, has.
  • The situation in Afghanistan remains chaotic. Many people are trying to get to the airport in Kabul to get out of the country. The tagesschau reports that the Bundeswehr has been able to evacuate a total of 670 people so far.
  • Demonstrations will also take place in many cities over the next few days. More information is available at kabulluftbruecke.de

08/19/2021: Interior Minister Seehofer blocked local force evacuation for months +++ Foreign Office calculates local force numbers down +++ More and more cities register rallies

  • Two months ago, the German Conference of Interior Ministers had already called on the Federal Government to initiate the rapid admission of local forces from Afghanistan. But Interior Minister Seehofer in particular blocked the move. The Tagesspiegel has internal documents, documenting the failure of the federal government.
  • In recent years, employment relationships of local staff have apparently been deliberately converted into bogus self-employment in order to be able to evade responsibility more easily. According to Foreign Minister Maas, only 2,500 local staff are involved, but the reality is different. In this Spiegel conversation worth watching. an ex-military soldier reports from Min 14:20 on how long-time supporters are now being given the cold shoulder.

  • But even the few local employees who, according to the narrow definition of the Federal Government, may hope for protection, are constantly confronted with new hurdles: Employees of the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) are told that only parts of their family are allowed to leave: Grandparents or adult sons would have to be left to the Taliban. "GIZ confronts local forces with a choice: leave sons behind - or stay" writes Der Spiegel.
  • Protests are also planned across the country today and on the weekend. More and more rallies are being registered to demand the rapid evacuation and reception of people seeking protection. A central demonstration will take place on Sunday at 1 pm in Berlin. You can find a current overview and much more collected at kabulluftbruecke.de.
  • "They should rather fight the Taliban properly" - sentences like these are often used to divert attention from the failures of the Nato states. In a video, sociologist Aladin El-Mafaalani has briefly summarised why the Afghan army's quick abandonment is perfectly understandable and rational. This Instagram video is one that Joe Biden might want to take a look at.

18.08.2021: Bogus Taliban press conference +++ EU foreign ministers:inside want to negotiate with Taliban +++ Evacuation chaos continues

17.08.2021: Action cable air bridge started +++ Rallies planned in many cities +++ Evacuation via Kabul airport still chaotic

  • In order to increase the political pressure on those responsible, we have launched the Kabul Airlift campaign. At kabulluftbruecke.de you can write your congressmen, donate and inform yourself. Feel free to share this with your friends and family.
  • Today and in the next few days, demonstrations for the rescue and reception of Afghan protection seekers are planned in many places, and there were already initial gatherings yesterday. Larger demonstrations are planned for the weekend. At kabulluftbruecke.de there is now also an overview of actions of the Seebrücke, in which you can take part.
  • The situation at Kabul airport has stabilized in the last few hours, and the evacuation of embassy personnel has begun. Thousands had gathered there in recent days, fleeing the Taliban, and some desperate people had clung to planes taking off from the outside and crashed. The first German plane now flew out only seven people, more planes are to follow. Ongoing updates in the FR ticker.
  • The rescue operations following the hasty withdrawal of troops are also proceeding in such a chaotic manner because the German government had previously refused for months to guarantee the protection of local forces. A corresponding motion by the Greens in the Bundestag in April was rejected by the grand coalition in June.
  • Now it may be too late for most. In a disturbing ZDF interview on Heute Journal. Markus Grotian of the Afghan Local Forces Sponsorship Network confirms that there is little hope for the survival of many long-time supporters: "We have to dissolve our safehouses, the Taliban are going door to door. If any rescue comes, it will be too late."

06.08.2021: Sea-Watch 3 has a safe haven +++ Greens call on Heiko Maas to present a new situation report for Afghanistan +++ Greek camps evacuated due to forest fires

05.08.2021: Federal government sticks to deportations to Afghanistan +++ Greek ombudsperson declares deportation detention unlawful if deportation cannot take place promptly +++ Tolerance towards refugees decreases in Turkey

04.08.2021: Deportation flight to Afghanistan stopped +++ Lithuania considers building 508-kilometer fence on border with Belarus +++ Amnesty calls for decriminalization of sea rescues 

03.08.2021: ECHR stops deportations to Afghanistan +++ Over 100 Frontex officers to be sent to Lithuania +++ People increasingly fleeing Tunisia to EU

02.08.2021: Ocean Viking and Sea Watch 3 rescue over 800 people in the Mediterranean +++ Although the Taliban are overrunning Afghanistan, Armin Laschet still wants to deport there +++ I talk to Sonntagsblick about the failure of European refugee policy

  • In several missions, the Ocean Viking and Sea-Watch 3 have saved more than 800 people from drowning. There are currently 555 people on board the Ocean Viking and 263 on the Sea Watch 3. There are still at least three more boats in distress that need immediate assistance. You can find updates on social media at SeaWatch and SOS Mediterranée.
  • According to the IOM, at least 1113 people have died crossing the Mediterranean this year. If we want to prevent the deaths of even more people, we finally need support for civilian sea rescue by the EU, coast guards of the member states that actually rescue refugees, and our own European sea rescue mission. The current figures on drownings in the Mediterranean Sea can be found at the Missing Migrants" page of the IOM.
  • Although the Taliban are taking over more and more regions and killing people, Armin Laschet and Horst Seehofer still want to deport people to Afghanistan. They justify this by saying that criminals have to be deported consistently, but on the one hand criminals also have a right not to be deported to death and on the other hand the "criminals" are also people who have been caught several times without a ticket or have committed similar minor offences.
  • In an interview with Sonntagsblick I talk about how the situation of refugees has deteriorated since 2015, why they are granted fewer and fewer rights, and why we in Europe simply accept it when people die, when that is exactly what we should not do.
  • The UN warns of famine in Ethiopia's Tigray region, where it is having trouble delivering humanitarian convoys to some 5.2 million affected people. Food supplies are also in short supply in refugee camps in Tigray, where people from neighbouring Eritrea live, he said. There is also a high risk of disease outbreaks, especially in overcrowded refugee camps without adequate sanitation.

July 2021 News

29.07.2021: Number of civilian victims in Afghanistan reaches record level +++ Greece demands that Turkey take back rejected asylum seekers +++ Court rules: Asylum seekers without prospects of accommodation and work in Italy may not be returned.

28.07.2021: The Geneva Refugee Convention (GRC) turns 70. On this occasion, all news today have a reference to the world's most important document for the protection of refugees

- On its 70th birthday, the Geneva Convention on Refugees is dying. On this occasion I talked to the Frankfurter Rundschau about itthat the EU massively violates the CSF by mistreating, drowning or turning back refugees. Also on my homepage I have a short text to this.

- pianist Igor Levit and columnist Georg Diez have written an important article in the Tagesspiegelin which they call for an "aggressive humanism" and write that we must understand flight as an act of freedom and finally understand the 21st century as the century of the refugees.

- professor Sandro Mezzadra talks in an interview with Diary on how the Geneva Refugee Convention is currently under attack by states such as Denmark and the UK, and how the policy of externalisation contradicts the spirit of the Refugee Convention. He also explains why he is involved in sea rescue and why for him there is no strict distinction between theory and practice.

- In a Interview with Radio Eins, lawyer and political scientist Maximillian Pichl explains, why refugees in many EU states can no longer claim their rights under the Refugee Convention. And why reasons such as climate change and socio-economic exploitation should also be recognised as reasons for flight. I also spoke with Maximilian Pichl in my podcast about his study on the "Moria Complex"..

- Alexander Goebel commented in the Inforadio of the HRthat the inhuman reality at the external borders makes the commitment of the EU states to the CSF degenerate into pure hypocrisy.

27.07.2021: 57 people drown off Libyan coast +++ Libyan coast guard threatens to arrest crew of Sea Watch 3 +++ Germany deports again to Hungary 

26.07.2021: Tajikistan agrees to take in 100,000 Afghan refugees +++ The German Foreign Office downplays the situation in Afghanistan in order to be able to continue deporting +++ France calls for Frontex to be deployed at the English Channel

07/23/2021: Online disinformation is link between far-right and right-wing parties +++ Infant dies in Lesbos camp +++ Greece criminalizes human rights monitoring 

21.07.2021: Hunger strikers in Belgium in critical condition +++ 20 people drown in the Mediterranean and 500 are dragged back to Libya +++ With "Now" I talk about my book 

20/07/2021: My book on European refugee policy is published today +++ MEPs demand from the Commission to finally take action against Croatia's violent pushbacks +++ Sea-Eye sells Alan Kurdi 

07/19/2021: At least 955 people drowned in the Mediterranean this year +++ Sweden suspends deportations to Afghanistan +++ Scientist calls for better access to trauma therapy for refugees  

16.07.2021 Study shows that reports on refugees are increasingly negative +++ Refugees are subjected to massive violence by the Libyan coast guard +++ Lithuanians discuss measures to seal themselves off from the outside world

  • A study by the University of Mainz shows that Germany's leading media are reporting less frequently and more negatively about refugees. The Süddeutsche Zeitung reported most positively. The most negative was Bild. The two public news broadcasts have almost reversed the tenor of their reporting, the study says: "While almost only positive reports about refugees were broadcast here in 2015, both are now among the media with the most negative portrayal." A You can find a summary of the results in the Süddeutsche Zeitung.
  • Refugees continue to be subjected to violence, exploitation, sexual violence, extortion and forced labour in Libya, according to a new report by Amnesty International. According to a new report by the human rights organization, for many refugees, violence and mistreatment begin from their first contact with the Libyan Coast Guard at sea. You can find the report on the homepage by Amnesty in English, Arabic, Spanish, French and Italian. RND summarizes the report's findings.
  • Following the EU sanctions against Belarus, hundreds of refugees are arriving in Lithuania via the EU's external border. Lukashenko is trying to blackmail the EU with this and Lithuania has declared a state of emergency, erected a fence and now wants to lock up incoming refugees in prison for six months. The measures are also being hotly debated in Lithuania. The European press review eurotopics has collected comments from Lithuanian media and translated so that people in other EU countries can get a picture of the debate.
  • The UN denounce violence against refugees in Ethiopia's conflict-ridden Tigray region. A document, which is an EU initiative, calls for the withdrawal of Eritrean troops from Tigray.

07/15/2021 European Parliament presents inquiry report on Frontex +++ In a letter I ask Heiko Maas to reassess the security situation in Afghanistan +++ Three people drown off Malta 

Jul 14, 2021 Lithuanian parliament to jail fugitives +++ More people flee Taliban +++ Germany maintains deportations to Afghanistan, Finland suspends them

07/13/2021 Hundreds of Sans Papiers in Belgium on hunger strike +++ Taliban conquer more and more provinces +++ CDU politician wants to continue deporting to Afghanistan despite the situation

Jul 12, 2021 Afghan government asks for suspensions of deportations +++ Federal Constitutional Court declares one judge biased in asylum dispute +++ Frontex expands presence at Lithuanian border 

07/09/2021 Ocean Viking has a safe haven +++ Lithuania erects new fences on border with Belarus +++ CDU and SPD advocate mass camps at external borders

07/08/2021 At least 2087 people died fleeing to Spain this year +++ Person deported to Afghanistan presumed dead by grenade +++ Romania becomes key country on Balkan route

07.07.2021: British government closes itself off to protection seekers +++ Greek prime minister thinks pushbacks are right even though they violate existing law +++ 92 dead in 11 days off Tunisian coast

06.07.2021: Heiko Maas (SPD) maintains deportations to Afghanistan +++ Deportation flight to Afghanistan today +++ Lithuanian government declares state of emergency

07/05/2021: Ocean Viking rescues 572 people +++ 43 people drown off Tunisia +++ Franziska Giffey (SPD) calls for deportations to Syria

  • Tonight, the Ocean Viking another 369 people from a wooden boat, which threatened to capsize throughout the rescue. Those rescued were brought safely on board during the operation, which lasted more than five hours, where there are now 572 people. Previously, the Ocean Viking had already rescued 203 people from distress at sea in four rescue operations in just a few days.
  • 43 people drowned in boat accident off coast of TunisiaAccording to information, 84 people were pulled out of the water by rescue workers and survived. Only on Friday, the Geo Barents of Doctors Without Borders was also prevented from leaving, and the Sea-Watch 4 and the Sea-Eye 4 are currently not allowed to leave to rescue drowning victims.
  • Franziska Giffey (SPD) calls for deportations to Syriawhere people are threatened with torture and death. Giffey does not say how this is supposed to work, because then she would have to admit that a deal with the mass murderer Bashar al-Assad would be needed.
  • 250,000 euros are required for a Sea-Eye fundraiser was collected - on the occasion of the birthday of Federal Minister of the Interior Horst Seehofer. For some reason, however, he did not want to accept the donation certificate in person. 
  • Three years after the deportation of 69 Afghans on Seehofer's 69th birthday, NDR and Deutschlandfunk spoke with the people who were deported at that time. NDR meets the people in Kabul, in undignified camps on the Greek islands and in the Bavarian province. In fact, some were able to return as skilled workers. You can listen to the four-part radio feature here.

07/02/2021: Ocean Viking rescues over 40 people +++ Collective deportation to Afghanistan likely planned next Tuesday +++ Sea-Eye raises money for a birthday present to Horst Seehofer 

07/01/2021: Libyan coast guard fires on refugee boat +++ Greece cuts money to refugees +++ France rescues 46 people from distress in the English Channel 

News from June 2021

30.06.2021: Significantly fewer asylum applications in the EU +++ At least seven dead off Lampedusa +++ Immigration to Germany declines 

06/29/2021: In my podcast Shikiba Babori explains the current situation in Afghanistan +++ Local forces of the German Armed Forces demonstrate in Afghanistan +++ Refugee children in Greece often cannot attend school 

06/28/2021: 33 European cities form safe havens alliance +++ Bamf forces refugees to stay in their home countries +++ 40 dead in boat crash between Western Sahara and Canary Islands 

25.05.2021: 5.7 billion euros for Turkey, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon +++ More cooperation with third countries to counter migration +++ Conference for solidarity-based refugee policy in Europe 

06/24/2021: Croatian police illegally deport babies, pregnant women and children with disabilities +++ Consequences must follow after latest Frontex investigation group meeting +++ UNHCR report says 1.47 million people would need to be resettled next year 

06/23/2021: Doctors Without Borders withdraws from Libyan camps +++ HRW says Frontex is doing too little to address basic human rights abuses +++ Amnesty documents pushbacks and torture by Greek authorities

06/22/2021 Germany admits more local forces from Afghanistan after all +++ 13,000 people repatriated to Libya this year +++ 11,000 relatives of refugees waiting for family reunion visas

06/21/2021: Family deported from Pirna even though five of their seven children were born in Germany +++ Heiko Maas doesn't want EU sea rescue mission +++ EU uses questionable technological methods for border controls

06/18/2021: 82.4 million refugees worldwide +++ Trial and verdict in Moria 6 case face criticism +++ Criminal conviction against Reisch overturned 

06/17/2021: Crew of the Nadir negotiates to bring rescued to Italy instead of Libya +++ CDU politician wants to have people deported to Syria +++ Syrians:inside flee from Denmark to Germany

06/16/2021: Overcrowded camps on Lampedusa +++ Spain calls for frontline deployment at border +++ Asylum seekers sue European Commission 

  • The facilities for refugees on Lampedusa are completely overcrowdedbecause around 2,000 refugees have arrived there in the past four weeks. For the small island, that's a lot of people, but not for the EU with its 450 million inhabitants. Unfortunately, the German government is also currently refusing to take in people from Italy. 
  • In the ongoing diplomatic dispute with Morocco... Spain wants to ask the EU for the presence of the European Frontex border protection agency in the North African exclaves of Ceuta and Melilla. Spain accused Morocco of "blackmail". Rabat wants to increase migration pressure on Spain by suspending border controls so that Madrid will revise its position in the Western Sahara conflict.
  • Off Lanzarote, 27 people were saved from drowning. Europapress reports (in Spanish). 
  • transcript Verlag published the anthology "Kämpfe um Migrationspolitik seit 2015" (Struggles over Migration Policy since 2015), which examines the developments in European refugee policy in recent years from a critical perspective. Which forces have prevailed and what shifts have occurred discursively and politically? And what does this mean for emancipatory and pro-migrant perspectives? You can read the anthology free of charge as a PDF here.

06/15/2021: Bishops call for deportation stop +++ Up to 200 people capsized off Yemeni coast +++ Former Frontex vice criticizes developments at EU agency 

06/14/2021: Geo Barents needs safe haven for 410 rescued +++ 1200 protection seekers land on Lampedusa, 1000 returned to Libya +++ Pope calls Mediterranean Europe's biggest graveyard 

06/11/2021: Geo Barents rescues 26 people +++ 450 people dragged back by Libyan coast guard +++ European Court of Justice rules Germany must base subsidiary protection on individual cases, not death statistics in region of origin 

06/10/2021: Greece to stop letting people from Syria and Afghanistan apply for asylum +++ Greek government defends sonic cannon deployment +++ Deportation flight carrying 42 people lands in Kabul 

09.06.2021. In an interview with Deutschlandfunk Kultur I talked about the illegal strategy to seal off Europe. +++ EU interior ministers:inside no closer to a common refugee policy +++ Seehofer wants to prevent secondary migration to Germany 

08.06.2021: Today deportation to Afghanistan +++ European Court of Auditors criticises Frontex +++ Associations and NGOs demand from EU interior minister:inside end of mass camps at external borders and more reception from Greece 

07.06.2021: Comprehensive study on deported Afghans published +++ Tomorrow evening the next deportation flight leaves for Afghanistan +++ Sea-Eye 4 detained in Palermo  

  • The majority of Afghans deported from Germany apparently leave Afghanistan again shortly afterwards. In a recent study, only one out of 113 deportees stated that they wanted to stay in Afghanistan. Moreover, deportees have often never been to Afghanistan or were last in Afghanistan as children and are deported to a country they hardly know. A summary of the study you will find at tagesschau.de. The entire study by Friederike Stahlmann can be found here.
  • At least eleven civilians were killed in a bomb attack in western Afghanistan. Although Afghanistan is considered the most unsafe country in the world, deportations from Germany to the country are to take place again tomorrow evening. On my homepage I have statedhow an EU agreement should facilitate deportations to Afghanistan.
  • The Sea-Eye 4 was detained by the Italian authorities on flimsy grounds so that it could no longer rescue people. The Sea-Eye 4 rescued 408 people from the central Mediterranean Sea during its last mission in May and brought them to Pozzallo in Sicily, including around 150 children. At least 811 people have drowned trying to cross the Mediterranean since January, according to the IOM. 
  • Although Médecins Sans Frontières' Geo Barents has been in the Libyan SAR zone for a week, it has not yet been deployed and departures from Libya are the lowest in months. Migration researcher Matteo Villa points out that such facts show that the civilian rescue ships in the Mediterranean are precisely not a pull factor that drives people to dare the dangerous crossing of the Mediterranean. Matteo Villa's comment on Twitter.
  • The Tagesschau reports that Greece is closing its borders with the help of the EU Commission. In addition to special cameras and lie detectors, sound cannons are also used, which can cause permanent damage. I told the Tagesschau: "We now have a situation in which loud noises are apparently being used to prevent people from even coming to border crossing points to apply for asylum."

04.06.2021: SRF reports on human rights violations by Frontex +++ Danish government wants to get rid of protection seekers +++ Turkey and Western Balkans receive billions, also to keep refugees out of EU 

03.06.2021: International Commission of Jurists rejects EU Pact on Migration and Asylum in its current form +++ Ministry of the Interior does not want to help Bundeswehr personnel from Afghanistan +++ Religious woman found guilty for church asylum

06/02/2021: 23 people drown in the Mediterranean +++ Greek government to use sound cannons against refugees +++ Dutch journalist detained in Greece for reporting pushbacks

01.06.2021: NGOs sue Frontex +++ Saturday is day of action against deportations to Afghanistan +++ Greece cracks down on refugees with new technology and AI

News from May 2021

28.05.2021: Federal Foreign Office forcibly routes protection seekers in their countries of origin +++ Hundreds of minors stranded in Ceuta +++ Irish association raises money for Mediterranean rescue ship 

05/27/2021: Fewer naturalizations due to Brexit and Corona +++ German government admits mistakes in dealing with homosexual protection seekers +++ Expert:inside calls for monitoring of refugees' human rights compliance in Greece

  • Last year, significantly fewer people were naturalised in Germany. This was mainly due to Brexit and the Corona pandemic, as reported by the Federal Statistical Office in Wiesbaden on Wednesday. In 2020, some 109,900 foreigners were granted citizenship - 15 per cent fewer than in 2019. Syrian nationals made up the second-largest group among naturalised citizens for the first time. 

05/26/2021: NGOs file lawsuit against Frontex +++ Assad gets re-elected +++ UN human rights office raises allegations against EU refugee policy 

05/25/2021: Frontex chief tries to cover up pushback scandal and ignores his own human rights commissioner +++ CDU politician:inside calls for more mass camps at EU external borders +++ Hundreds of unaccompanied minor protection seekers are in Ceuta 

20/05/21: EU Commission works on new deals with Libya and Tunisia +++ Over 180 people drowned despite Frontex planes circling nearby +++ Greek migration minister claims illegal pushbacks are legal

20.05.2021: Case against Carola Rackete dropped +++ Sea-Eye 4 assigned a safe haven +++ Number of internally displaced persons increases worldwide 

19.05.2021: More Corona cases in the new Moria +++ Spain deploys tanks and soldiers in Ceuta +++ Expert commission on causes of flight presents report

18.05.2021: Debate on sea rescue in the EU Parliament +++ Sea Eye 4 needs a safe haven +++ Thousands of people from Morocco arrive in Ceuta 

17.05.2021: Sea-Eye 4 rescues 330 people +++ Residents:inside prevent deportation in Glasgow +++ New Moria completely unsuitable for people with disabilities 

12.05.2021: Council of Europe criticizes Greek government +++ Broad alliance calls for easing family reunification for people with subsidiary protection status +++ Man on Lesbos faces life imprisonment after trying to save people 

  • The Human Rights Commissioner of the Council of Europe has written a letter to the responsible Greek ministers in which she demands an end to the illegal pushbacks, to allow the NGOs to work and to finally improve the conditions in the camps. In their reply, the responsible ministers simply deny that illegal practices occur and claim, contrary to all the facts, that the conditions in the camps have substantially improved.
    You can find the letter from the Human Rights Commissioner here.
    Here is the ministers' response.

11/05/2021: Me and 48 other MEPs call for evacuation of refugees from new Moria due to lead exposure +++ Libyan militias torture and enslave refugees +++ Over 2000 people land on Lampedusa

05/10/2021: Sea-Watch 4 detained, Sea-Eye 4 departs for area of operations +++ Libyan coast guard deports more than 700 people to civil war country +++ Germany must retrieve Syrian deported to Greece 

07.05.2021: Activist acquitted again +++ Italian mayor calls for European sea rescue programme +++ Journalist reports on smear campaigns against civilian sea rescuers:inside

05/06/2021: Activist against deportations in court +++ Pushbacks of minors in France +++ Drones for Frontex +++ 

05/05/2021: 2,000 deaths from pushbacks since pandemic began +++ Illegal pushback documented +++ European Parliament backs civil society 

04.05.2021: Deportation flight to Afghanistan cancelled because safety of accompanying police officers cannot be guaranteed +++ USA accepts more refugees again +++ German court strengthens rights of refugees 

03.05.2021: More than 600 refugees rescued from the Mediterranean in the last days +++ Kara Tepe on Lesbos closed, so even more people in the new Moria +++ Greece is a dead end for many refugees

News from April 2021

04/30/2021: Sea Watch rescues 44 people +++ New closed camp in Greece +++ Mass surveillance of refugees planned

  • The Sea Watch 4 rescues 44 people from distress at sea, after not even 24 hours back in the area of operation. This shows once again that there are currently far too few rescue ships on the ground to save people from drowning. On the Twitter account of Sea Watch you will be informed about current missions.  
  • The Ritsona Camp near Athens will be converted into a closed camp. Three meter high walls will enclose the camp. What this looks like is shown by Parwana Amiri on Twitter
  • In future semi-automatic surveillance systems are to monitor Greek camps in the Aegean. Residents will only be allowed to leave the increasingly militarised camps during certain hours of the day. Drones, metal detectors and X-ray machines are also to be used. Read more about the background at Algorithm Watch
  • A Spanish rescue ship brought a wooden boat drifting in the Atlantic to Tenerife. On the boat were more dead than initially thought: 24 bodies, including two minors. German Wave reports. 
  • Cottbus was the first city in Lusatia to be declared a Safe Haven for Refugees. With this, it follows the call of the Seebrücke Lausitz. Learn more at Lower Lusatia News.
    To find out if your city has been declared a Safe Haven and to see which other European municipalities are showing solidarity in welcoming refugees, check out the map from Europe Welcomes.

04/29/2021: Frontex provides information for deadly interceptions to Libyan coast guard +++ Sea-Eye 4 reaches Mediterranean and receives support from Sea-Watch +++ Refugees are moved from humane camp to new Moria 

04/28/2021: Ocean Viking rescues 236 people +++ EU Commission backs "voluntary return" +++ EU Parliament denies Frontex discharge 

  • Yesterday, theOcean Viking rescued 236 people from two overcrowded boats, including 114 unaccompanied minors. Several were weakened & dehydrated, women suffered minor fuel burns and inhaled fumes. At least 453 people have died in the Mediterranean since the beginning of the year. Click here to go to the SOS Méditerranée Twitter channel.
  • The EU Commission has presented a paper, which aims to persuade more people to return "voluntarily" or to deport more people. According to these plans, Frontex is to become a deportation agency and states that do not cooperate are to be blackmailed with restrictions on the issuing of visas. Unfortunately, the Commission is focusing its work on sealing off and deportations and not on ensuring that fundamental rights are respected at the external borders and that people are saved from drowning. 
  • The EU Parliament has refused to grant discharge to Frontex and has postponed the decision because we want to wait for the results of the investigation into pushbacks before taking a decision. This is a good step so that human rights violations do not remain inconsequential. You can find my tweet about it here.
  • So far, 105 refugee teachers have been qualified for the German school system at the University of Potsdam. The programme, which lasts four to six semesters, enables refugee teachers to subsequently teach at German schools. They learn German and are given the opportunity to study a second subject, which they previously lacked for full recognition of their qualification in Germany.
  • The European Commission has recently set up a group on sea rescue, the stated aim of which is to create cooperation at EU level to guarantee rapid intervention in the event of distress at sea. A month after the group was created, many people who could have been rescued have drowned. So far it's unclear what the group does at all and it's not even public who belongs to it. You can find an analysis of this at statewatch.

04/27/2021: Frontex relies on air surveillance instead of rescue +++ Debate on climate passport among Greens +++ Acquittal for monk in church asylum trial

04/26/2021: Green European Group launches campaign for municipal reception of refugees +++ State government in Thuringia wants to continue taking refugees from Greek camps +++ German government offers Greece money to be able to deport there

  • On social media, people are demanding their right to be in solidarity under #WelcomingEurope. Over 600 solidarity-minded municipalities in 17 EU countries want to welcome refugees. The map with over 600 host communities you can find here[ Door Closes ] And... here you can watch the video of the campaign.
  • Thuringia received a total of 177 refugees from the Greek camps between August 2020 and March 2021. The state government in Thuringia also wanted to start its own state programme to take in more people from the Aegean islands, but was forbidden to do so by the Interior Ministry under Horst Seehofer. The Greens and the Left Party in Erfurt are pushing for a lawsuit, but the SPD doesn't want one. This legal opinion commissioned by me... states that the federal government should not simply refuse to accept some refugees by the federal states.
  • On the Greek island of Lesbos, the closure of the municipal camp Kara Tepe began over the weekend. It was considered a showcase camp where particularly needy refugees, such as women and children, were housed. It is being closed so that the refugees are no longer housed near the city. 
  • After several courts ruled that refugees can no longer be deported from Germany to Greece because they face lack of care and homelessness, the federal government is offering money to Greece. The aim is to change the conditions for refugees recognised in Greece so that they can be deported from Germany again.
  • Denmark wants to deport people to Syria and has already withdrawn the protection title of more than 250 Syrian refugees. This decision is based on a completely incorrect assessment of the security situation in the country. In the European Parliament, we adopted a resolution on 11 March which clearly states that Syria is not a safe country to return to. Pro Asyl explains the background.

22.04.2021: Last plane with refugees from Greece lands today +++ Denmark prepares deportations to Syria +++ Groko extends IRINI naval mission 

21.04.2021: Call for a ban on deportations to Afghanistan +++ Expert:innen explain why deportations to Syria violate fundamental human rights +++ Court rules: No deportations from Germany to Greece

20.04.2021: Collective deportation from Frankfurt to Pakistan +++ "Ask the State" has to pay less court costs because of Frontex +++ Italian authorities wiretap journalists, damaging freedom of the press 

19.04.2021: Seehofer tries to obstruct Frontex reconnaissance +++ Hotel owners in Gran Canaria take in refugees +++ Thousands of refugee children and young people missing 

04/16/2021: Belgian woman has taken in a total of over 50 refugees in need +++ More people fleeing West Africa to Europe +++ Pro Asyl calls for halt to deportations to Afghanistan 

04/15/2021: Almost nothing remains of the 2018 Bamf scandal +++ Brutal human trafficker in Libya set free +++ Study proves: Migration hardly a topic in German curricula

04/14/2021: Biden withdraws troops from Afghanistan +++ Bamf wrongly rejected 21,224 asylum applications +++ Denmark to deport to Syria 

04/13/2021: Thousands of recognized refugees continue to flee from Greece to Germany +++ Spanish human rights activist deported from Morocco +++ A new Lesbos looms on the Canary Islands 

04/12/2021: Alan Kurdi is free again +++ Hagen becomes safe haven +++ 132 boats turned back in Frontex operations 

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