Cologne declines assistance to deport 500 migrants lacking residence permits

The Federal Office for Foreigners in Coesfeld offered the city of Cologne administrative support to obtain return documents for 500 migrants who have been ordered to leave Germany. Cologne rejected the offer, saying it would instead use social‑work staff to try to improve the prospects of those individuals remaining in the country. Without the cooperation of the city, the deportation decisions cannot be executed, leaving the orders ineffective. The migrants are primarily from Western Balkan states, and officials warned that the lack of enforcement weakens the credibility of Germany’s migration law.

The decision has drawn criticism that selective non‑enforcement creates an unfair system for those who comply with the law and could increase administrative costs for local authorities.