Germany In Talks To Deport 'Criminal' Asylum Seekers, Interior Minister Says

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (file photo)

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser says Berlin is in secret talks to deport “criminal” asylum seekers. In an interview with Bild am Sonntag, Faeser said, “We want to consistently deport Islamist violent criminals. We are negotiating confidentially with various states to make deportations to Afghanistan and Syria possible again.” The issue was raised following the stabbing death of a police officer in Mannheim in June. Investigators said an Afghan immigrant carried out the attack. Some 40,000 Syrians and 20,000 Afghans have applied for asylum this year, the newspaper reported. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock criticized the move, saying it was "not possible" to deport migrants to countries like Afghanistan. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Radio Farda, click here.