Following this week’s incident in Berlin, police have found a wallet in the truck that crashed into the Berlin Christmas market. It contained an ID card of a  man, who was already on the watch list of police for potential IS attackers. He is now sought after by the police, much in the good old Western style of WANTED!, promising the public a reward of up to € 100.000 for references, that lead to his arrest. I am surprised, they didn’t put a “dead or alive” under the “WANTED” headline.

The man shown on this ID card – mind you, nobody knows, whether he has actually been in the truck at all, although it seems highly likely – is of Tunisian origin, applied for asylum in Germany in 2015, had contact to a certain Imam known for recruiting fighters for the IS. He was denied a refugee status and was set up for deportation. But Tunesia refused to provide his papers. Incidentally, they arrived yesterday, the General State Prosecutor explained. During all this time he was in a state of connivance in Germany. This happens to many folks, whose countries of origin refuse to take them back or deny the acknowledgement of their citizenship. However, he was under surveillance all the time up until September, as he was classified as a person likely to endanger the public. As there was nothing happening, that would support further surveillance, it was lifted in September. It would be very unfortunate for the police, if this man actually turned out to be the attacker. On the other hand, there are roughly 500 people classified such and it is hard to keep close track of everybody. In the end, every single individual can turn into some sort of danger to the public, running riot or amok for whatever reason. One can’t just keep everybody unter control. And who would want that, anyways?

Most of Germany is now screaming for speeding up deportation processes. Whithout considering the legal trouble involved. Those, who do, call for detention of all folks, who can not be deported.

I am in two minds about this. I would all be for it, if those involved have commited a crime here. But I am sure, such individuals are locked away anyways, just like any other criminal is. But why lock up a – say family with kids – just because they have come from a country, that Germany officially calls a “safe state” (which many aren’t,at least I would not call Afghanistan a safe state to go back to, unlike the German government, who does), therefore are not granted a refugee status and have otherwise done nothing wrong?

I think, Germany must find ways to enable rightful immigration procedures a.s.a.p. For this particular group of people and for everybody else seeking to come here. But I also believe, taking the current incident to discuss this matter, is maybe the wrongest occasion to do so.