Administrative Court Bayreuth, Judgment of June 17, 2020, Case No.: B 7 K 20.30314
When applying for asylum, the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) decides which protection status the applicant will be granted: asylum, refugee status, subsidiary protection, or whether a deportation ban should be established. In the case of a deportation ban, it must be justified how there is a significant and concrete individual risk to life, limb, or freedom in the country of origin. The question arises, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, whether the pandemic can be considered such a risk and thus justify deportation bans, as the infectious virus can also have fatal consequences.
In the present case, the applicant filed a lawsuit after all protection statuses were denied by the BAMF, requesting the establishment of a deportation ban for Ethiopia, primarily citing the pandemic situation. The Administrative Court dismissed the admissible lawsuit as unfounded, as the humanitarian situation in Ethiopia did not meet the requirements for a deportation ban, even considering the COVID-19 virus.
Background of the Case
The case concerns an Ethiopian national born in Germany in 2016. He belongs to the Oromo ethnic group and is Muslim. His asylum application was rejected by the BAMF due to the lack of individual persecution.
Rejection of the Asylum Application by BAMF
The BAMF rejected the plaintiff’s asylum application on the grounds that there were no individual grounds for persecution, and the plaintiff had never been to Ethiopia. Family asylum was also not possible as the asylum applications of the parents were also rejected.
Subsidiary Protection and Deportation Bans
The application for subsidiary protection was also rejected, as there were no concrete dangers to life, limb, or freedom. The poor supply situation in Ethiopia due to locust plagues and the COVID-19 pandemic was not sufficient to justify a deportation ban.
Lawsuit at the Administrative Court
The plaintiff filed a lawsuit against the rejection notice, which was ultimately handled by the Administrative Court Bayreuth. The plaintiff requested the establishment of a national deportation ban in accordance with § 60 Abs. 5 and 7 of the Residence Act (AufenthG).
Judicial Assessment of the Situation in Ethiopia
The court argued that the general poor living conditions in Ethiopia, including the COVID-19 pandemic, were not sufficient to justify a deportation ban. A specific and individual danger had to be present, which was not the case here.
Return Program and Reintegration Assistance
The BAMF referred the plaintiff to various return assistance and reintegration programs that could offer support for voluntary return to Ethiopia. These programs include financial assistance and support for reintegration.
No Deportation Ban Under the European Convention on Human Rights
A deportation ban under Article 3 ECHR was also rejected. The court found that the humanitarian conditions in Ethiopia were not sufficient to create a „truly exceptional“ situation that would justify a deportation ban under § 60 Abs. 5 AufenthG.
Remaining Deportation Threat
The court saw no legal obstacles to the deportation threat issued by the BAMF. As the plaintiff was not granted any protection status and there was no asylum-independent residence permit, the deportation threat remains in place.
Entry and Residence Ban
The court upheld the BAMF’s decision to impose an entry and residence ban for 30 months, finding no legal grounds to overturn this decision.
Conclusion and Judgment
The Administrative Court Bayreuth dismissed the lawsuit as unfounded. It found no sufficient reasons to establish a deportation ban and confirmed the legality of the BAMF’s decisions. The plaintiff and his family must therefore expect to return to Ethiopia.
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