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Germany’s Top Migration Official Steps Down Germany’s Top Migration Official Steps Down
(35 minutes later)
BERLIN — The top migration official in Germany, who has come under fire for a post on Twitter from his office last month that is widely viewed as having encouraged Syrians to come to his country, stepped down on Thursday.BERLIN — The top migration official in Germany, who has come under fire for a post on Twitter from his office last month that is widely viewed as having encouraged Syrians to come to his country, stepped down on Thursday.
Manfred Schmidt, the head of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, quit as stranded migrants were forced to plot new routes to Western Europe after violent clashes at Serbia’s border with Hungary prompted thousands of them to head for Croatia. The official, Manfred Schmidt, president of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, quit as stranded migrants were forced to plot new routes to Western Europe after violent clashes at Serbia’s border with Hungary prompted thousands of them to head for Croatia.
The migration office posted a message on Twitter on Aug. 25 stating that Syrians refugees would be granted asylum in Germany, regardless of how they had reached the country.The migration office posted a message on Twitter on Aug. 25 stating that Syrians refugees would be granted asylum in Germany, regardless of how they had reached the country.
The tweet, based on a technical decision circulated in Mr. Schmidt’s office, was aimed at speeding up the decision time for new asylum applications. But it quickly went viral in the Arabic-speaking world, where the decision was interpreted as Germany throwing open its doors.The tweet, based on a technical decision circulated in Mr. Schmidt’s office, was aimed at speeding up the decision time for new asylum applications. But it quickly went viral in the Arabic-speaking world, where the decision was interpreted as Germany throwing open its doors.
But within days, tens of thousands had gathered at Budapest’s Keleti station, chanting “Germany, Germany,” and seeking to travel west and leading Hungarian officials to criticize what it saw as Berlin’s unilateral rescinding of European Union policy.But within days, tens of thousands had gathered at Budapest’s Keleti station, chanting “Germany, Germany,” and seeking to travel west and leading Hungarian officials to criticize what it saw as Berlin’s unilateral rescinding of European Union policy.
That effectively rescinded Germany’s pledge to abide by an agreement that requires migrants to apply for asylum in the first European Union country they reach, and it played a crucial role in sparking the mass migration toward Europe in recent weeks.That effectively rescinded Germany’s pledge to abide by an agreement that requires migrants to apply for asylum in the first European Union country they reach, and it played a crucial role in sparking the mass migration toward Europe in recent weeks.
Germany has said it now expects one million migrants to reach the country this year, and the migration office was the subject of criticism that it had failed to speed up the processing of the more than 250,000 applications for asylum, even as thousands more are submitted daily.Germany has said it now expects one million migrants to reach the country this year, and the migration office was the subject of criticism that it had failed to speed up the processing of the more than 250,000 applications for asylum, even as thousands more are submitted daily.
Germany’s Interior Ministry, responsible for the migration office, said that Mr. Schmidt, 56, had cited “personal reasons” for his decision to leave the position he has held for five years.Germany’s Interior Ministry, responsible for the migration office, said that Mr. Schmidt, 56, had cited “personal reasons” for his decision to leave the position he has held for five years.
That decision has rippled across Europe, and after Hungary on Wednesday showed its resolve to protect its borders by firing water cannons and tear gas at migrants who tried to breach a heavily guarded border gate, large groups of migrants turned west for Croatia.That decision has rippled across Europe, and after Hungary on Wednesday showed its resolve to protect its borders by firing water cannons and tear gas at migrants who tried to breach a heavily guarded border gate, large groups of migrants turned west for Croatia.
Croatia has promised to let the migrants pass through the country, but has indicated that they are not welcome to stay, and it was unclear whether Slovenia, the next country before Austria, would be equally tolerant of migrants trying to make their way further into Europe.Croatia has promised to let the migrants pass through the country, but has indicated that they are not welcome to stay, and it was unclear whether Slovenia, the next country before Austria, would be equally tolerant of migrants trying to make their way further into Europe.
Croatia opened two border crossings with neighboring Serbia on Thursday morning, hoping to avoid a bottleneck after 5,650 migrants entered the Balkan nation over a 25-hour period that ended Thursday morning.Croatia opened two border crossings with neighboring Serbia on Thursday morning, hoping to avoid a bottleneck after 5,650 migrants entered the Balkan nation over a 25-hour period that ended Thursday morning.
The towns of Ilok and Batina, which straddle the border with Serbia, have been transformed into makeshift migrant-processing centers, along with Tovarnik, which on Wednesday was the sole point of entry for most migrants.The towns of Ilok and Batina, which straddle the border with Serbia, have been transformed into makeshift migrant-processing centers, along with Tovarnik, which on Wednesday was the sole point of entry for most migrants.
There are plans to use abandoned buildings throughout the country, including an unused former mental institution near the town of Osijek, to deal with the influx of migrants.There are plans to use abandoned buildings throughout the country, including an unused former mental institution near the town of Osijek, to deal with the influx of migrants.
“We have complete control,” Interior Minister Ranko Ostojic said at a news conference in Tovarnik on Wednesday night. “If, however, big waves start arriving from Serbia, then we have to think about different procedures. This means the E.U. at that point must create ‘hot spots’ for the migrants before they reach the Croatian border. The situation in which there are so many people without controls is unacceptable.”“We have complete control,” Interior Minister Ranko Ostojic said at a news conference in Tovarnik on Wednesday night. “If, however, big waves start arriving from Serbia, then we have to think about different procedures. This means the E.U. at that point must create ‘hot spots’ for the migrants before they reach the Croatian border. The situation in which there are so many people without controls is unacceptable.”
The Croatian foreign minister, Vesna Pusic, reiterated that migrants would be allowed to travel to their final destinations beyond the country, and that migrants would not be arrested.The Croatian foreign minister, Vesna Pusic, reiterated that migrants would be allowed to travel to their final destinations beyond the country, and that migrants would not be arrested.
“They are free,” she told Croatian television, noting that the ultimate goal for many is Germany. “They are not in jail. They can move freely in this period.”“They are free,” she told Croatian television, noting that the ultimate goal for many is Germany. “They are not in jail. They can move freely in this period.”
On Wednesday, the Hungarian riot police fired tear gas and water cannons at hundreds of migrants after they tried to push through a border gate. The use of force by the Hungarian authorities, a turning point in the migration crisis, was castigated by the United Nations, and advocates questioned whether Hungary was breaching its obligations under international law.On Wednesday, the Hungarian riot police fired tear gas and water cannons at hundreds of migrants after they tried to push through a border gate. The use of force by the Hungarian authorities, a turning point in the migration crisis, was castigated by the United Nations, and advocates questioned whether Hungary was breaching its obligations under international law.
Hungary, for its part, said it was responding to a violent rebellion and that it had detained 29 people, including one who was described as a “terrorist.” The government said that two children were injured when they were thrown over the border, and that 20 police officers had been injured during the clashes.Hungary, for its part, said it was responding to a violent rebellion and that it had detained 29 people, including one who was described as a “terrorist.” The government said that two children were injured when they were thrown over the border, and that 20 police officers had been injured during the clashes.
The Defense Ministry said plans were underway on Thursday to conduct military drills in several counties that border Croatia. The police said that three family members who were separated during an altercation on Wednesday were reunited by the Hungarian police and sent back to Serbia. The Defense Ministry said plans were underway on Thursday to conduct military drills in several counties that border Croatia. The police said that three people in a family who were separated during an altercation on Wednesday were reunited by the Hungarian police and sent back to Serbia.
Meanwhile, the Hungarian media reported that three foreign journalists who were injured during the standoff had been taken into custody by the police for illegally entering the country. Meanwhile, the Hungarian news media reported that three foreign journalists who were wounded during the standoff had been taken into custody by the police for illegally entering the country.
The Serbian interior minister, Nebojsa Stefanovic, said Wednesday evening that his country had protested to Hungary over the use of tear gas fired onto Serbian territory. He also promised to send additional police forces to the border.The Serbian interior minister, Nebojsa Stefanovic, said Wednesday evening that his country had protested to Hungary over the use of tear gas fired onto Serbian territory. He also promised to send additional police forces to the border.
Although Croatia is allowing migrants to pass through the country unimpeded, there were already some signs that its generally tolerant and welcoming attitude toward refugees may not last. Countries like Croatia and Serbia have weaker economies than many of their Western European counterparts and are ill-prepared for a large influx of refugees.Although Croatia is allowing migrants to pass through the country unimpeded, there were already some signs that its generally tolerant and welcoming attitude toward refugees may not last. Countries like Croatia and Serbia have weaker economies than many of their Western European counterparts and are ill-prepared for a large influx of refugees.
Drago Zuparic-Iljic, a sociologist at the Institute for Migration and Ethnic Studies in Zagreb, said Croats were offering a warm welcome, mindful of their own struggles during the bloody ethnic wars of the 1990s. He warned, however, that an embrace could transform into a backlash, if extremists were allowed to hijack the debate.Drago Zuparic-Iljic, a sociologist at the Institute for Migration and Ethnic Studies in Zagreb, said Croats were offering a warm welcome, mindful of their own struggles during the bloody ethnic wars of the 1990s. He warned, however, that an embrace could transform into a backlash, if extremists were allowed to hijack the debate.
“The danger remains with extremists who can mobilize others with inaccuracies about migrants carrying disease, weapons or seeking only economic help,” he said, pointing to posts on social media that depict the migrants as terrorists or economic opportunists from countries other than Syria.“The danger remains with extremists who can mobilize others with inaccuracies about migrants carrying disease, weapons or seeking only economic help,” he said, pointing to posts on social media that depict the migrants as terrorists or economic opportunists from countries other than Syria.
On Wednesday, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon sharply criticized Hungary for what he called its unacceptable treatment of people seeking refuge from war.On Wednesday, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon sharply criticized Hungary for what he called its unacceptable treatment of people seeking refuge from war.
“I was shocked to see how these refugees and migrants were treated,” he said. “It’s not acceptable.”“I was shocked to see how these refugees and migrants were treated,” he said. “It’s not acceptable.”
His criticism was echoed by António Guterres, the head of the United Nations refugee agency, who called for Hungarian authorities to ensure that refugees fleeing conflict and war did not face obstacles.His criticism was echoed by António Guterres, the head of the United Nations refugee agency, who called for Hungarian authorities to ensure that refugees fleeing conflict and war did not face obstacles.
The agency said in a statement that it was shocked and saddened to see water cannons and tear gas employed to prevent Syrian refugees, including families with children, from entering the European Union.The agency said in a statement that it was shocked and saddened to see water cannons and tear gas employed to prevent Syrian refugees, including families with children, from entering the European Union.
“States should manage their borders in a way that is consistent with international and E.U. law, including guaranteeing the right to seek asylum,” Mr. Guterres said in a statement.“States should manage their borders in a way that is consistent with international and E.U. law, including guaranteeing the right to seek asylum,” Mr. Guterres said in a statement.