In Hamburg, a young Afghan man named Amir N. finds himself in prison at the age of 18, despite being the boss of a notorious drug gang. He wears flashy jewelry and feels untouchable, but his criminal activities have caught up with him. Amir is the ringleader of the “315er” gang, known for forcing teenagers to deal drugs through threats and violence. Recently, he was found in possession of a firearm, prompting a special police unit to arrest him.

Amir came to Germany as a refugee at the age of ten, along with his family. Despite his criminal behavior, his residence permit has been repeatedly extended by German authorities. The Senate’s answers to inquiries about Amir’s case reveal the challenges of German migration policy. Despite being a known criminal, he has been granted extensions to his residence permit multiple times.

The public prosecutor’s office is investigating Amir for a range of crimes, including robbery, bodily harm, coercion, threats, and drug trafficking. Politicians, including Interior Minister Nancy Faeser and Minister Cem Özdemir, have made statements emphasizing that criminals who seek refuge in Germany should not expect leniency and may be required to leave the country.

The decision about Amir’s future will depend on his criminal activities and the response of authorities to the case. Politicians have the opportunity to show whether their promises to address criminal behavior among refugees will be followed by concrete action. The case of Amir N. serves as a test of the effectiveness of migration policies in dealing with persistent criminal offenders.