More than 200,000 people are legally required to leave the country, yet only a small fraction is deported. The reasons are complex and varied.

Some individuals evade authorities, while others cannot be deported because their countries of origin refuse to accept them, or necessary documents are missing. In countries like Syria and Afghanistan, ongoing conflict and instability often make deportations impossible. Reporter Olaf Sundermeyer spent months with a team working for the Central Aliens’ Authority of the State of Brandenburg.

His documentary shows how the justice system, the police, and regional authorities get in each other’s way. Bureaucratic inefficiencies delay decisions, while activists intervene to stop deportations. The documentary follows two particularly complex cases involving a Chechen and a Syrian citizen with criminal records. The authorities have decided that both men should be deported, but numerous legal and procedural obstacles stand in the way.

Despite systemic shortcomings there are compelling legal and humanitarian reasons why many individuals are allowed to remain in Germany. Health issues, family ties, and constitutional protections often prevent deportations. In countries affected by war or widespread violence, removals are generally suspended. It is a complex and intricate system. Most voters struggle to grasp its full scope, and many politicians fail to adequately explain why they cannot fulfill their campaign promises.
 

 

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