Commentary on stricter deportation rules: Fear-driven politics

The traffic light government is selling its new deportation laws as a major success. But their effectiveness is questionable. With the tightening measures, the traffic light is reacting to a debate that thrives solely on propaganda.

The planned new deportation rules are “hard but necessary,” says Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens). Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) is calling for deportations “on a large scale”. The government is selling its “deportation package” as a major success. But the problem is: it is not reacting to the realities of flight and migration, but rather to a debate that only thrives on propaganda.

The AfD has finally abandoned the foundation of the constitutional state. There they are calling for “millions of remigration” and “pushbacks, no matter what the European Court of Justice says about it.”

And there are now also attacks on the human rights protection of refugees in the Union. For example, when party leader Friedrich Merz blames the problem of tight medical appointments on refugees and thus plays the well-known AfD game: “Us against them”.

Let’s not kid ourselves: the traffic light government is responding to this mood when Habeck says that not everyone who is in need can come to Germany and that the consensus in the country must be kept stable.

The “the boat is full” mood is increasing

This is an understanding of politics that is driven primarily by fear. Certainly, the “the boat is full” mood is increasing. But moods can change. And you can’t bury your head in the sand before them. Habeck sticks to carrot and stick, linking better job opportunities for refugees with the deportation package, which is questionable under the rule of law.

How would it be if the Vice Chancellor simply aggressively told a different story? One that isn’t about “German fear” but rather one that classifies things correctly? Because flight is a global problem and other countries are much more burdened than European countries. Most people seek refuge in other regions of their own country and are therefore internally displaced. And very many find accommodation in neighboring countries in the global south. Poor Lebanon alone has taken in an estimated two million Syrians – with only 5.5 million inhabitants. And rich Germany is arguing that the 20,000 or so people who could legally be deported must now be deported very quickly.

Germany needs immigration

Why does fear continue to be stoked? Many people are in Germany for good personal reasons and we have good political reasons for accepting them. According to the OECD, more immigrants than ever before have jobs in Germany. Our economy and our society need these people.

This reality needs to be secured politically. With money for the cash-strapped municipalities that are the first point of contact for refugees. Good migration policy takes place when politicians take care of apprenticeships for refugees and integration programs and do not restrict the rights of families with children and constantly threaten them with deportation.