Refugee Council criticizes deportations to Venezuela

The Saxon Refugee Council is calling for the deportation practices of asylum seekers to be reviewed - especially if they have health risks. The background to this are two cases of deportations to Venezuela. According to the Refugee Council, the father of a married couple with an eleven-year-old son suffers from serious heart problems. Shortly before Christmas, the family was deported from Löbau to Venezuela, the council announced.

Only little time to pack their belongings

"Despite multiple indications of his state of health, the authorities showed no consideration whatsoever," it said. The social welfare office had only set up an apartment for the family the day before. "They searched our clothes and belongings for cash. We had 10 minutes to pack our things - then we drove to Berlin without food, water or a toilet," the mother was quoted as saying.

Family from Flöha separated during deportation

In a second case, a married couple aged more than 60 had to return to the South American country from Flöha on January 7. The husband suffers from diabetes and high blood pressure, and the wife was scheduled to have knee surgery in February. The couple's son could remain in Germany. All those affected - including the family from Löbau - had made efforts to integrate and had promises of work. The efforts had been ignored.

Refugee Council insists on implementation of the guidelines for repatriation

The Refugee Council demanded the implementation of the guidelines for repatriation issued by the government of the CDU, Greens and SPD in the last legislative period. Among other things, it stipulated that night-time deportations should be avoided and families should not be torn apart. Deportations to Venezuela would have to be suspended in view of the precarious situation and following the rigged elections in 2024.