German authorities on Monday deported 50 Iraqi nationals whose asylum applications had been rejected.
A chartered flight for the deportations left Hanover on Monday morning, the Bild newspaper reported, citing security sources.
The migration debate has intensified ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for Sunday, sparked by several violent incidents against foreign nationals without legal status.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz pledged on Sunday that his Social Democrats (SPD) would strengthen their approach to managing illegal migration – speeding up deportations and creating legal channels for skilled immigrants.
According to official figures, more than 220,000 foreigners in Germany do not have legal status, including rejected asylum seekers who are obliged to leave the country.
