Investigative report links senior LAB Niedersachsen staff to migrant activist groups and legal aid work
An investigation found that senior officials in Lower Saxony's immigration office have connections to migration-rights organisations and also provide legal assistance to some foreign nationals.
Researchers from one outlet examined the Landesaufnahmebehörde Niedersachsen, the body responsible for registering asylum seekers and executing deportations in the state. They uncovered that Jasmin P., one outlet head of the deportation department, has a background in the Verfassungsschutz, was active in the Jusos, and has publicly criticized right-wing extremism. Marius G., another senior official, is a long-time immigration lawyer who provides legal training, acts as a legal guardian for stateless migrants, and has appeared at meetings of the NGO Statefree e.V., which challenges national borders.
Both officials' extracurricular activities raise questions about the agency's impartiality. The agency declined to comment, citing data-protection rules, and one outlet plans further reporting on possible structural issues and alleged interference with deportations in Lower Saxony.
Why it matters
Conflicts of interest among officials could undermine the fairness and effectiveness of Germany's deportation system.
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