Oberbergischer Kreis enforces the deportation of a radicalized individual Immigration authority enforces the deportation of a Croatian national with a criminal record.

Oberbergischer Kreis. The Foreigners' Authority of the Oberbergischer Kreis, in close collaboration with the responsible security authorities and ministries, carried out the deportation of a radicalized and criminally convicted 18-year-old Croatian national on July 13, 2026.

The individual had recently served a prison sentence for bodily harm in the Wuppertal correctional facility. During his incarceration, security authorities gathered evidence indicating increasing radicalization in the realms of Salafism and Jihadism after his conversion to Islam. These developments prompted several security authorities to intensively deal with the case.

Based on the available information, the Oberbergischer Kreis determined the loss of the individual's right to freedom of movement under current legal provisions. This rendered the individual obligated to leave the country. To ensure the deportation could be carried out immediately following the prison sentence, the responsible district court ordered detention pending deportation upon the Foreigners' Authority's request. The deportation to Croatia was successfully executed on July 13, 2026.

“Fortunately, there was no immediate danger to the population. Nonetheless, this procedure required significant personnel and organizational resources,” said District Administrator Klaus Grootens. “Therefore, the close and trustworthy collaboration of the involved security authorities is all the more important. It significantly contributes to identifying potential dangers early and taking appropriate measures to protect the general public.”