A Syrian family living in Germany for years committed more than 100 criminal offenses while simultaneously receiving €10,000 in monthly state benefits, according to a new documentary that casts a harsh light on the contradictions within the country’s migration and deportation systems. The revelations come from journalist Paul Ronzheimer’s latest report for Sat.1, titled “RONZHEIMER – How’s it going, Germany?”
The documentary details a stark case involving family members in Berlin and Stuttgart who remained in the country despite a long list of serious crimes, including violent offenses. Meanwhile, other individuals who were well-integrated into German society faced deportation. “Is the state deporting the wrong people?” Ronzheimer asks in the film, pointing to what he describes as a flawed approach.
Authorities eventually managed to remove the family from Germany after assembling a special 50-person task force focused on dangerous foreigners. The documentary notes that a strategy of persistent legal pressure, referred to as “a thousand pinpricks,” finally led to their expulsion.
Ronzheimer’s investigation tests the German government’s proclaimed “migration turnaround,” a policy aimed at increasing deportations and setting clearer boundaries. However, the report suggests implementation remains inconsistent, with chaos often prevailing at border crossings and enforcement described as “highly unpredictable.”
One poignant example highlighted in the documentary is Sidad, a well-integrated man slated for deportation, raising questions about why he was targeted while the criminal family evaded removal for so long. When Ronzheimer pressed authorities for explanations, responses were often vague or unsatisfactory.
The issue touches on a sensitive nerve in Germany, where security agencies have long warned about clan-related crime, yet deportation of high-risk individuals frequently stalls due to bureaucratic and legal hurdles. The documentary argues that procedural obstacles often take precedence over actual threat assessments.
Looking ahead, the federal government plans to fully implement its migration policy shift by 2025, promising more personnel, faster procedures, and clearer criteria. Whether these measures will suffice remains an open question. Ronzheimer’s film underscores that without consistent and decisive action, policy ambitions may remain theoretical.
The documentary airs Tuesday at 8:15 p.m. on Sat.1 and is likely to reignite debates over Germany’s deportation practices and the broader challenges of migration management.
Is the state deporting the wrong people? Because at the same time, serious criminal refugees have been living in the country for years because deportations are not possible. A Syrian extended family was responsible for over 160 offenses and still lived in Stuttgart for years.
Großfamilie — Kukksi
