North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry criticizes Cologne over deportation refusals

The North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry for Children, Youth, Family, Equality, Flight, and Integration has criticized the City of Cologne's immigration office for refusing to deport 500 migrants who are required to leave the country.

In November 2024, Cologne declined assistance from the Central Immigration Office in Coesfeld to facilitate the return of these individuals, opting instead to seek residency prospects for them. The state ministry described the decision as “not comprehensible in individual cases” and is currently in discussions with Cologne authorities to clarify the circumstances surrounding the so-called “Coesfeld List.”

The ministry highlighted concerns regarding insufficient efforts by Cologne officials to clarify identities and execute deportations. One specific case involves an individual known to police in 147 instances who has resided in Germany since 2003 and recently faced a penal order for commercial fraud after fleeing a court hearing. The ministry emphasized that a serious interest in expulsion exists when legal violations are not merely minor or isolated.