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Cologne migration project review reveals inclusion of convicted individuals
An investigation into Cologne’s controversial right-to-stay project has revealed that several migrants with criminal records were included in the program. Following a request from the North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry of Migration, the city conducted an individual review of the 'Coesfeld List' provided by the Central Foreigners Authority (ZAB).
City Director Dörte Diemert reported that in 2024, 130 individuals in the program had criminal indications, with 79 of them having prior convictions. Of these 130 individuals, 77 have since been excluded from the project. This includes 34 people who exceeded the program's threshold by receiving prison sentences of more than six months.
While Diemert stated that exclusion rules were largely implemented appropriately, the review also identified 29 cases where the reasoning for why certain individuals had not yet been excluded remained unclear. The controversy stems partly from the city administration's previous refusal to accept ZAB assistance in securing travel documents for 471 migrants from West Balkan states to facilitate deportations.
Entities
Central Foreigners Authority · Cologne · Dörte Diemert · North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry of Migration
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [DISPUTED] The Cologne city administration rejected assistance from the Central Foreigners Authority (ZAB) to obtain travel documents for 471 migrants from West Balkan states. www.halternerzeitung.de · www.bbv-net.de · www.ruhrnachrichten.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] The city identified 29 cases where it was unclear why individuals had not yet been excluded from the program. www.halternerzeitung.de · www.bbv-net.de · www.ruhrnachrichten.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] In 2024, 130 individuals in the Cologne right-to-stay project had criminal records or indications of criminal activity. www.halternerzeitung.de · www.bbv-net.de · www.ruhrnachrichten.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] 77 of the 130 individuals with criminal indications were excluded from the program. www.halternerzeitung.de · www.bbv-net.de · www.ruhrnachrichten.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] 34 individuals were excluded because they received prison sentences exceeding six months. www.halternerzeitung.de · www.bbv-net.de · www.ruhrnachrichten.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] 79 of the individuals with criminal indications had previous convictions. www.halternerzeitung.de · www.bbv-net.de · www.ruhrnachrichten.de