The proposal by Saxony's Interior Minister Armin Schuster (CDU) for a possible detention order or "forced departure" for foreigners who are required to leave the country has been met with harsh criticism from the Greens in the state parliament. "What Interior Minister Schuster is calling for here sounds like something copied from an AfD election manifesto," said parliamentary group leader Franziska Schubert. She accused the minister of "questionable fishing on the fringes of the right".
In an interview with the German Press Agency, Schuster suggested increasing the pressure on foreigners who are obliged to leave the country if they do not cooperate with the authorities. "Civil law provides for detention for this purpose. This instrument would also be the right one for certain foreigners who are obliged to leave the country and who stubbornly refuse to comply with a request from the authorities," he said.
In principle, such a measure could also be called "forced departure detention". Schuster suggested a period of up to six months. "That is a harsh proposal, I admit that, but these people are dancing around on our noses," said the minister.