The German Police Union (DPolG) has demanded the immediate suspension of the federal government’s Afghan relocation scheme citing security concerns and inconsistencies in the identity verification process of new arrivals.
In an urgent letter to outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz published on Wednesday, the union highlighted the grave security lapses in the scheme since its inception amid claims that many Afghan applicants have presented falsified documents in order to obtain travel permits.
It also noted that the latest flight scheduled to arrive from Germany’s Afghan refugee center in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad on Wednesday reportedly includes just two or three Afghan nationals who worked alongside the German army in the country. The flight is due to bring 157 Afghan refugees to the country.
“The current procedure, in which, despite the identity not being determined without any doubt, travel ID cards are issued for foreigners is highly risky and irresponsible,” said DPolG federal president Heiko Teggatz.
“Against the background of the currently highly tense security situation in relation to Islamist terrorism, I think such a procedure is unacceptable,” he added.
A key issue raised in the letter is that the selection process for the program is handled by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operating in Afghanistan and Pakistan, which, according to Teggatz, has resulted in significant inconsistencies in identity verification.
Reports indicate that Afghan citizens have used falsified birth and marriage certificates at the German Embassy in Islamabad to obtain travel documents. Furthermore, proxy passports issued by the Taliban — documents not recognized internationally — are allegedly being used as travel credentials.
Teggatz claimed that despite the involvement of German embassy staff in Islamabad, individuals presenting fake or altered documents are not automatically disqualified from the program. Instead, authorities reportedly rely on an “alternative credibility” assessment to issue foreign travel ID cards (Rafa) and provide the necessary visas.
“In many cases, individuals with dubious documents are still allowed to travel. This raises serious security concerns,” Teggatz stated.
In light of these concerns, the DPolG is calling on Chancellor Scholz to use his executive authority to halt the federal program until further notice.
Last week, the German government resumed flights for Afghan refugees from Pakistan after a temporary suspension during the election campaign.
On Feb. 25, 155 Afghans arrived in Berlin, marking the first group to be transported since the election results secured power for the legacy parties CDU and SPD, who are expected to form a coalition government.
Flights for Afghan refugees were paused ahead of the election due to concerns over immigration and political optics. The decision followed a series of high-profile crimes committed by Afghan nationals, which fueled fears that further arrivals could strengthen the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
Germany has accepted more than 48,000 Afghans since August 2021, with almost 36,000 classified as “particularly endangered” by the federal government. Reports indicate that the cost of these relocations has amounted to several hundred million euros.
