Government faces compulsory monetary sanctions from the court
More than 2,000 Afghans are currently waiting to travel to Germany as part of various resettlement programs, including former local staff and those considered particularly at risk. However, the federal government has temporarily halted the admission program for these endangered individuals since the beginning of May, causing concern and legal action.
The Administrative Court of Berlin has ordered the federal government to issue visas in 22 cases, as of August 20, in response to delays in the resettlement process. The court's decision comes as a relief for several Afghan families, who fear deportation to Afghanistan under the rule of the Islamic Taliban, where their lives are allegedly at risk.
One such family, consisting of five children and their parents, successfully demanded the enforcement of a July decision from the Administrative Court. The Higher Administrative Court of Berlin-Brandenburg upheld this decision in their favour. However, another family, a four-member unit with a visa promise due to particular endangerment under the Afghanistan admission regulation, is facing a delay. Initially granted visa issuance by a Berlin court, they must now complete a security check before visa issuance.
The German Embassy in Islamabad is in constant high-level contact with the Pakistani government to arrange a secure solution for the affected group. The Embassy has secured the release of 245 people from the deportation camps, but reports suggest that around 450 people from the program have been arrested by Pakistani authorities. As of the beginning of this week, the federal government had deported 211 people from the admission program from Pakistan to their home country.
The federal government argues that the admission procedures and visa issuance are currently suspended overall. This stance has been met with criticism from the Green party parliamentary group leader, Britta HaΓelmann, who accuses the federal government of shirking their responsibility and damaging Germany's reputation. The government has also faced penalty fees for not issuing visas to two Afghan families by set deadlines. A penalty of 10,000 euros is threatened if a decision is not made on a family's application within three weeks.
Some of these Afghan individuals are supported by the organization "Kabul Air Bridge". The organization's efforts, along with the court orders, provide a glimmer of hope for the thousands of Afghans waiting for a chance to start a new life in Germany. The German Embassy in Islamabad continues to work diligently to ensure the safety and well-being of these individuals, while navigating the complexities of the resettlement process.
