In Hesse, Germany, the state’s Interior Minister Roman Poseck has proposed new legislative measures to allow police to track the mobile phones of refugees who are required to leave the country. This request comes amid challenges faced by law enforcement in locating refugees during deportation attempts, as many are often found to be ‘missing’ when police arrive to carry out deportations. Poseck emphasizes that the current German residency laws do not provide the legal framework necessary for such actions, a gap he believes needs to be addressed ahead of the upcoming interior ministers' conference in Hamburg scheduled for June 17-19.

Poseck's initiative has sparked a significant debate about the implications of increased surveillance measures on individual freedoms and privacy. Critics accuse him of fostering a climate akin to a surveillance state, arguing that such invasive measures infringe upon the rights and dignity of refugees. The context of his proposal is underscored by a rising trend of refugees evading deportation orders, with Poseck noting that the inability to locate these individuals is the primary reason for the failure of many deportation attempts. He argues that enhanced tracking could significantly improve the effectiveness of deportation efforts.

This debate touches upon broader issues of immigration policy and human rights in Germany, as the government seeks to balance the enforcement of immigration laws with the protection of individual rights. The discussion reflects a growing tension within German society regarding refugees, as rising numbers in precarious situations continue to test the limits of public tolerance and state resources. Poseck's call for phone tracking raises critical questions about the future direction of Germany's immigration policies and the state's role in monitoring vulnerable populations.