In Hamburg, a young Afghan man named Amir N. is serving time in prison at the age of 18. Despite being the leader of a notorious drug gang, he wears flashy jewelry and feels untouchable, but his criminal activities have caught up with him.
Amir came to Germany as a refugee at the age of ten with his family. However, despite his known criminal behavior, he has been granted multiple extensions to his residence permit by German authorities. The Senate’s answers to inquiries about Amir’s case reveal the challenges of German migration policy and how it can be difficult to remove criminals from the country.
The public prosecutor’s office is investigating Amir for crimes such as robbery, bodily harm, coercion, threats, and drug trafficking. Politicians such as Interior Minister Nancy Faeser and Minister Cem Özdemir have made statements emphasizing that criminals who seek refuge in Germany should not expect leniency and may be required to leave the country.
The decision about Amir’s future will depend on his criminal activities and how authorities respond to the case. Politicians have an opportunity to show whether their promises to address criminal behavior among refugees will be followed by concrete action. The case of Amir N. serves as a test of the effectiveness of migration policies in dealing with persistent offenders.