2018 Ellwangen police raid

The migrant reception center "Landeserstaufnahmeeinrichtung Ellwangen" (LEA) was established in April 2015 in some buildings of the Reinhardt-Kaserne in Ellwangen, a former military facility. Immigrants who arrive in the administrative district of Stuttgart are brought to this center for their registration, health checks and the start of an asylum procedure. They usually stay for some weeks in Ellwangen,{{citation needed|date=November 2018}} before they are assigned to other towns. The facility was once planned to have a capacity of 500 - 1000 inhabitants.Stadt Ellwangen: [http://www.ellwangen.de/index.php?id=796 Landeserstaufnahmeeinrichtung Ellwangen (LEA)], retrieved 2 August 2018

In the morning hours of Monday, 30 April 2018, four police officers went with two patrol cars to the migrant reception center to arrest the 23-year-old Yussif O., an asylum seeker from Togo, who was scheduled for deportation to Italy.[https://www.dw.com/en/scores-of-refugees-attack-german-police-cars-over-deportation-case/a-43631175 Scores of refugees attack German police cars over deportation case], Deutsche Welle, 3 May 2018 They found Yussif O. in the center and arrested him. When the officers tried to leave the site, they were surrounded by about 150 migrant reception residents who threatened them and damaged one police car, preventing the police officers from leaving.[http://www.dw.com/en/german-police-catch-fugitive-asylum-seeker-following-raid/a-43638039 German police catch fugitive asylum-seeker following raid], Deutsche Welle, 3 May 2018 Alassa Mfouapon, from Cameroon, co-organized the asylum seekers,[https://bnn.de/lokales/karlsruhe/nach-unruhe-in-ellwangen-fluechtling-lebt-jetzt-in-karlsruhe Nach Unruhe in Ellwangen: Flüchtling lebt jetzt in Karlsruhe] In: bnn.de. 4. January 2019.{{cite news |title=Why was he allowed to enter Germany again? |url=https://www.bild.de/politik/inland/politik-inland/ellwangen-warum-durfte-der-abgeschobene-kameruner-wieder-einreisen-59293710.bild.html |access-date=16 January 2019 |work=Bild |date=31 December 2018 |language=de |quote=he also organized the "solidary and non-violent" resistance to the deportation of Togolese Yussif O., which was then escalated by "martial police violence".}} "{{cite web |title=Following a brutal and politically motivated deportation: Alassa Mfouapon must be returned immediately and be granted political asylum in Germany! |url=https://www.mlpd.de/en/following-a-brutal-and-politically-motivated-deportation-alassa-mfouapon-must-be-returned-immediately-and-be-granted-political-asylum-in-germany |website=MLPD.de |publisher=Marxist–Leninist Party of Germany |access-date=16 January 2019 |page=en |date=2018 |quote=he soon becomes a confidant, a speaker, a friend and organizer among refugees – their “leader”. |archive-date=16 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190116201319/https://www.mlpd.de/en/following-a-brutal-and-politically-motivated-deportation-alassa-mfouapon-must-be-returned-immediately-and-be-granted-political-asylum-in-germany |url-status=dead }} It would have taken hours for police reinforcements to arrive.{{citation needed|date=November 2018}}.[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/migrants-germany-prevent-deportation-congo-ellwangen-a8333251.html Hundreds of migrants in German town prevent deportation of man to Congo], The Independent, 2 May 2018, falsely claiming the man was from Congo{{cite news |last1=Cockburn |first1=Harry |title=Hundreds of migrants in German town prevent deportation of man to Congo |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/migrants-germany-prevent-deportation-congo-ellwangen-a8333251.html |access-date=17 June 2018 |work=The Independent |date=2 May 2018}}

Three days later a second raid was conducted with hundreds of policemen to re-establish the rule of law.{{cite news |last1=Markus Melzl |title=The trauma of Ellwangen |url=https://bazonline.ch/ausland/europa/das-trauma-von-ellwangen/story/12451809 |access-date=17 June 2018 |work=Basler Zeitung |date=24 May 2018 |language=de |quote=The fact that the rule of law could only be restored through the use of hundreds of policemen clearly shows that such an action is doomed to failure}} They arrested Yussif O. In addition, several persons suspected of drugs offences were arrested, and 17 residents were moved of the hostel, home to around 500 mostly African asylum seekers, to other locations. 27 asylum seekers offered resistance, while some were injured, when they jumped out of the windows. 292 people were checked, twelve people were injured in total, among these one police officer.{{cite news |last1=David Falkner |title=After unrest in Ellwangen: Refugee now lives in Karlsruhe |url=https://bnn.de/lokales/karlsruhe/nach-unruhe-in-ellwangen-fluechtling-lebt-jetzt-in-karlsruhe |access-date=16 January 2019 |work=Badische Neueste Nachrichten |date=4 January 2019 |language=de |quote=twelve people were injured in the operation, including one civil servant}}

Bernhard Weber, the vice president of the Ellwangen police regional authority (German: Vizepräsident des Polizeipräsidiums Ellwangen),{{Cite news|url=https://www.faz.net/1.5571779|title=Seehofer über Ellwangen: "Schlag ins Gesicht der rechtstreuen Bevölkerung"|work=FAZ.NET|access-date=2018-11-13|language=de|issn=0174-4909}} said they acted because of concerns that a "lawless area with organised structures" was developing at the shelter.{{Cite news|url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-europe-migrants-germany-police/german-police-raid-migrant-shelter-after-clashes-idUKKBN1I40N5|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503105224/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-europe-migrants-germany-police/german-police-raid-migrant-shelter-after-clashes-idUKKBN1I40N5|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 3, 2018|title=Clashes at migrant hostel stir German integration fears|date=3 May 2018|work=Reuters U.K.|access-date=2018-11-09|language=en-GB|quote=Senior officer Bernhard Weber said police believed a ‘lawless area with organised structures’ was developing at the hostel to prevent authorities carrying out deportations, so they took action.}}

On 8 May 2018, the Stuttgart Administrative Court ruled that the deportation order for the man from Togo to Italy was legal.[https://www.stuttgarter-zeitung.de/inhalt.nach-abschiebe-eklat-in-ellwangen-abschiebung-des-togoers-nach-italien-zulaessig.56287459-4122-44cb-9537-a66b7e983fb9.html Abschiebung des Togoers nach Italien zulässig], Stuttgarter Zeitung, 8 May 2018 O. then called{{what?|date=November 2019}} the Federal Constitutional Court.[https://www.zeit.de/gesellschaft/zeitgeschehen/2018-05/ellwangen-togoer-klage-abschiebung-bundesverfassungsgericht-karlsruhe Togoer klagt in Karlsruhe gegen Abschiebung], Zeit.de, 11 May 2018 On 14 May 2018, the Constitutional Court ruled that O. could be deported, and he was deported to Italy subsequently.[https://www.bz-berlin.de/deutschland/togolese-yussif-o-ist-abgeschoben Togolese Yussif O. ist abgeschoben], Berliner Zeitung, 15 May 2018 Die Zeit reported his case and that he arrived in Milan,{{Cite news|url=https://www.zeit.de/2018/22/ellwangen-abschiebung-yussif-o|title=Ellwangen: Was wurde aus Yussif O.?|date=24 May 2018|work=ZEIT ONLINE|access-date=2018-11-09|language=de}}{{cite news |title=Togolese asylum-seeker who fought deportation lands in Italy |url=http://p.dw.com/p/2xlRW |access-date=17 June 2018 |work=Deutsche Welle |date=15 May 2018 |quote=The man has arrived in Milan one day after authorities denied his appeal to stay in Germany.}} but Die Welt reported that he was in Rome and homeless;[https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article176613258/Yussif-O-Abgeschobener-Togoer-aus-Ellwangen-jetzt-obdachlos-in-Rom.html Abgeschobener Togoer aus Ellwangen jetzt obdachlos in Rom], Die Welt, 23 May 2018 It was discovered by police in Milan that he was not a Togo national{{cite news |title=Deferred refugee apparently comes from Ghana |url=https://www.wochenkurier.info/ueberregionales/politik/artikel/abgeschobener-fluechtling-kommt-offenbar-aus-ghana-49257/ |access-date=17 June 2018 |work=Wochen Kurier |date=17 May 2018 |language=de |quote=When he arrived in Italy in 2017, he also had Ghanaian papers with him. When entering Germany, however, the man had claimed to have no papers. }}{{Dead link|date=August 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} and that he wanted to go back to his homeland Ghana.{{cite news |title=Deported refugee from Ellwangen lives homeless in Rome |url=https://www.zeit.de/gesellschaft/zeitgeschehen/2018-05/yussif-o-abschiebung-ellwangen-togo-obdachlos |access-date=17 June 2018 |work=Die Zeit |date=23 May 2018 |language=de |quote=He was not from Togo, but Ghana and wanted to go back there.}}

On 10 May, the inhabitants of the shelter offered a press conference. Alassa Mfouapon said: "We are not criminals."{{cite news |title=Why Ellwangen's refugees fear Italy |url=https://www.stuttgarter-nachrichten.de/inhalt.fluechtlingsdemo-in-ellwangen-die-furcht-vor-italien.7e7ecf2a-642a-4a93-98ca-deae8c1881c6.html |access-date=16 January 2019 |work=Stuttgarter Nachrichten |date=10 May 2018 |language=de |quote="That which was reported last week, we are not," says Alassa. "We are not criminals."}}

On 11 May, African inhabitants of the migrant shelter in Ellwangen held a small march to protest deportations, joined by "a few greying activists" from the Marxist–Leninist Party of Germany.{{Cite news|url=https://www.tagblatt.de/Nachrichten/Stopp-stopp-stopp-Deportation-372804.html|title="Stopp, stopp, stopp Deportation"|work=Schwäbisches Tagblatt online|access-date=2018-11-20|language=de-DE|quote=Die da nun mit „Pace“-Fahnen und Trommeln durch die Stadt ziehen, sehen nicht wie Schwerverbrecher aus. Auch mischen sich keine linksextremen Krawallmacher unter die Schar. Nur einige ergraute Aktivisten der Marxistisch-Leninistischen Partei (MLPD) stimmen „Hoch die internationale Solidarität!“ an.}}

Alassa Mfouapon, the co-organizer of the April 30th insurrection event, was deported to Italy,{{cite news |title=Deported Cameroonian is back in Germany |url=https://www.swr.de/swraktuell/baden-wuerttemberg/lea-ellwangen-kameruner-asylbewerber-ist-zurueck,lea-ellwangen-kameruner-asylbewerber-ist-zurueck-100.html |access-date=16 January 2019 |work=Südwestrundfunk |date=29 December 2018 |language=de |quote=Alassa Mfouapon from Cameroon organized a demonstration against a police operation in May at the Landeserstaufnahmeeinrichtung (LEA) in Ellwangen (Ostalbkreis) together with other asylum seekers. He was then deported to Italy in June.}} but returned to Germany a few months later and now lives in Karlsruhe.{{cite news |last1=Falkner |first1=David |title=After unrest in Ellwangen: Refugee now lives in Karlsruhe |url=https://bnn.de/lokales/karlsruhe/nach-unruhe-in-ellwangen-fluechtling-lebt-jetzt-in-karlsruhe |access-date=16 January 2019 |work=BNN |date=4 December 2019 |language=de |quote=Following his deportation, the Cameroonian, who co-organized the demonstration of asylum seekers, filed a lawsuit against the police operation from Italy, reports the SWR. The man named Alassa Mfouapon also has supporters in Germany}}{{cite news |title=Alassa Mfouapon is back! |url=https://www.rf-news.de/2018/kw51/alassa-mfouapon-ist-zurueck |access-date=16 January 2019 |work=Rote Fahne News |date=22 December 2018 |language=de}} In a reportage by public broadcaster Südwestrundfunk, it was said Mfouapon might not be an instigator of rebellion, but only a resister who is now back in Germany.{{cite news |title=Why Alassa Mfouapon came back |url=https://www.swr.de/swraktuell/baden-wuerttemberg/Alassa-Mfouapon,alassa-mfouapon-in-karlsruhe-100.html |access-date=16 January 2019 |work=Südwestrundfunk |date=8 January 2019 |language=de |quote=In Medienberichten wurde Alassa Mfouapon aus Kamerun vorgeworfen, er habe einen Flüchtlingsaufstand angezettelt. Dagegen wehrt sich der 29-Jährige. Nach seiner Abschiebung ist er wieder in Deutschland.}}

Reacting to the legal proceedings led by Yussif O. and his lawyer, Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) spoke of an "anti-deportation industry", working to prevent legal deportations.[https://www.zeit.de/2018/22/ellwangen-abschiebung-yussif-o Der Staatsfeind], Die Zeit, 23 May 2018[http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/alexander-dobrindt-csu-landesgruppenchef-beklagt-anti-abschiebe-industrie-a-1206430.html Dobrindt beklagt "Anti-Abschiebe-Industrie"], Der Spiegel, 6 May 2018 This was heavily criticized by the German Bar Association, and complaints against him were made by some lawyers.[http://www.fr.de/politik/flucht-zuwanderung/anti-abschiebe-industrie-anwaelte-zeigen-alexander-dobrindt-an-a-1510332 Anwälte zeigen Alexander Dobrindt an], Frankfurter Rundschau, 22 May 2018 Dobrindt hardened his criticism, speaking of "deportation saboteurs". The Left, a German political party, accused Dobrindt of "poisoning" the "social peace", while Baden-Württemberg deputy Minister President Thomas Strobl (CDU) expressed his support for Dobrindt and called his criticism "comprehensible".[https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/dobrindt-abschiebung-101.html Dobrindt setzt noch einen drauf], Tagesschau, 13 May 2018 As a consequence of the case, other CDU politicians, such as Saxony Minister President Michael Kretschmer demanded a reduction in development aid for countries that fail to cooperate with deportations.[https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/inland/nach-ellwangen-union-droht-herkunftslaendern-mit-entzug-von-entwicklungshilfe-15575779.html Union droht mit Entzug von Entwicklungshilfe], Frankfurter Allgemeine, 6 May 2018 Armin Schuster (CDU) stated: "In our constitutional state, there are clear red lines, which are now deliberately exceeded almost daily by asylum seekers." He demanded quicker deportations for criminal asylum seekers.[https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/inland/abschiebung-nach-ellwangen-haerteres-durchgreifen-gefordert-15571339.html Geflüchteter Togolese gefunden], Frankfurter Allgemeine, 3 May 2018

Winfried Kretschmann (Greens), Minister President of Baden-Württemberg, thanked the police, adding: "We do not tolerate any legal vacuum, and this attack on police officers must be punished". As a consequence of the events, Irene Mihalic of the Green Party criticized plans of the Federal government, especially the Interior Ministry, to establish "anchor centres" (Ankerzentren) for migrants, which are planned by the government to organize faster deportations.[https://www.zeit.de/gesellschaft/zeitgeschehen/2018-05/ellwangen-die-gruenen-bundesregierung-fluechtlinge-kritik-regierungsplaene Grüne kritisieren Pläne für Sammelunterkünfte], Die Zeit, 3 May 2018

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