Germany intensifies deportation efforts for Afghan criminals after deadly attack

In response to a recent knife attack in Aschaffenburg that left two dead, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser announced an intensification of efforts to deport more convicted criminals to Afghanistan, a move that has reignited debates around immigration policy as the country approaches its general elections. The suspect, a 28-year-old Afghan asylum seeker, had previously requested to close his asylum process and was supposed to be deported under the EU's Dublin Regulation, which Germany criticized as ineffective. Faeser stated that Germany is the only European nation to deport serious offenders to Afghanistan since the Taliban regained control. Opposing parties, particularly Friedrich Merz of the CDU, have pledged to enhance border controls and expedite deportations, advocating for a “de facto ban” on entry for undocumented immigrants. Merz criticized existing EU asylum laws as dysfunctional and called for a significant departure from the Schengen principle. The incident has heightened calls for stricter immigration policies amid rising concerns about violent attacks attributed to asylum seekers.