Racist border controls: A report on discrimination in Trier!

Racist border controls: A report on discrimination in Trier!

In the last few weeks, the discussion about racial profiling in Germany has made new waves. A man from Eritrea reported that he was repeatedly checked by the federal police because of his skin color, even though he had a legal residence permit. This accusation falls into the context of the ongoing border controls carried out by the Federal Police to combat irregular immigration and increase security at German borders. Tagesschau reports that In practice, such controls often take on discriminatory features. The Eritrean in question was stopped at the German-Luxembourg border and felt the measure was treating him unfairly because of his appearance.

Racial profiling occurs when people are controlled based solely on racial prejudices or physical characteristics, without there being any specific suspicion. According to the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency, these practices constitute a violation of the Basic Law and international conventions. daily news points out that opinions on such practices are divided in society. While the Federal Police emphasizes that people who look European are also checked, a study by the Expert Council for Integration and Migration shows that people who are perceived as foreign are checked twice as often.

Social discussion and further research

The increased number of controls leads to a more critical look at existing practices. Further research is needed to understand the exact causes of racial profiling. The Council of Experts recommends measures such as the introduction of inspection receipts in order to make the implementation of inspections independent of suspicion transparent. The Black People's Initiative in Germany goes even further and calls for the abolition of these types of controls as they are perceived as particularly discriminatory.

A concerted action against racial profiling is also being called for by various organizations. The Trier Multicultural Center reports frequent complaints about racist controls, especially from people with uncertain residence status. While there are complaint offices in Rhineland-Palatinate, no corresponding cases have been brought to court so far. However, a notable case from 2016 was ruled unlawful by the Rhineland-Palatinate Higher Administrative Court.

The look forward

The problem of racial profiling has not only become apparent in practice, but also requires a change in public perception. Public opinion research examines the influence of prejudice on racial attitudes in politics amid the need to shape an inclusive society beyond race and ethnicity. The challenges are clear, and it is up to society to address these questions and find fair solutions.