Germany to Expel Four Foreign Nationals Over Pro-Palestine Protests

The Intercept revealed on Tuesday that deportation orders have been issued by immigration authorities in accordance with German migration regulations.

Cooper Longbottom, Kasia Wlaszczyk, Shane O’Brien, and Roberta Murray are set to be deported. Longbottom is a citizen of the United States, Wlaszczyk holds citizenship in Poland, while both O’Brien and Murray are nationals of Ireland.

None of the four individuals have been found guilty of any criminal offenses. The directives are scheduled to be implemented within the next month.

The chief of Berlin’s immigration agency has issued deportation orders in response to political pressure, despite facing internal resistance.

According to a report by *The Intercept*, tensions have emerged due to the impending deportation of three individuals who are citizens of European Union member states. Under normal circumstances, these individuals would benefit from the right to free movement across EU countries.

Legal experts are drawing parallels between these cases and the strategies employed by Washington, utilizing deportation orders as a means to stifle social movements.

Alexander Gorski, legal representative for two of the demonstrators, asserted that the current events align closely with tactics commonly found in the far-right’s strategic approach.

He noted that in both the United States and Germany, political dissent is being suppressed by focusing on the migration status of demonstrators.

Gorski noted that, from a legal standpoint, the rationale given was concerning, drawing parallels to the case of Mahmoud Khalil.

Gorski was commenting on the case of the Palestinian Columbia University graduate and U.S. permanent resident who was apprehended from his apartment building over allegations connected to pro-Palestine activities on campus.

Thomas Oberhäuser, a legal expert and chair of the executive committee on migration law at the German Bar Association, stated that German migration law allows authorities to issue a deportation order without the necessity of a criminal conviction.

Oberhäuser, an uninvolved observer in the situation, emphasized, “The fundamental issue is assessing the severity of the threat and ensuring the response is proportionate. Expulsion based solely on political beliefs would constitute a significant overextension.”

Four individuals are facing distinct allegations from German authorities in connection with pro-Palestine demonstrations and activism activities in Berlin.

The demonstrations under discussion encompass a large-scale sit-in at Berlin’s central train station, a road blockade, and the occupation of a building at the Free University Berlin in late 2024.

The single common factor linking the four cases was the accusation that the demonstrators were involved in the university occupation, an event marked by property damage and claims of obstructing an arrest.

None of the demonstrators face specific allegations of vandalism or obstructing an arrest at the university. Rather, the deportation order is based on the suspicion that they engaged in coordinated group activities.

Germany has long been a steadfast ally of Israel, maintaining a supportive stance for several decades. Following Israel’s military campaign in Gaza initiated on October 7, 2023, Germany’s arms exports to the region have escalated significantly, witnessing a tenfold increase. This development has positioned Germany as a prominent participant in the ongoing conflict within the beleaguered Palestinian territory.

In November, the German parliament passed a contentious resolution in support of Israel, amid concerns that it could infringe on fundamental freedoms and potentially suppress criticism of the occupying regime.

A recent non-binding resolution, titled “Never Again is Now: Protecting, Preserving, and Strengthening Jewish Life in Germany,” advocates for the cessation of public funding to organizations that engage in anti-Semitic activities, challenge Israel’s right to exist, or promote a boycott against Israel.

A resolution has been put forward stipulating that individuals accountable for actions labeled as “anti-Semitic” within educational institutions should face exclusion from classes or potentially be expelled.

Numerous civil society organizations and intellectuals, including notable Jewish scholars, have expressed strong criticism of the resolution. They caution that it could potentially infringe upon fundamental rights, including free expression, free assembly, freedom of scientific inquiry, and artistic freedom.