Berlin Immigration Office Under Investigation for Alleged Corruption

Authorities in Berlin are investigating serious allegations surrounding the Landesamt für Einwanderung (LEA), as suspicions arise over the potential sale of appointments and passports within the agency. The investigation has put significant pressure on Berlin's governing mayor, as the integrity of immigration processes comes under scrutiny.

Reports indicate that since June 2025, there have been multiple raids on LEA employees, with significant operations taking place on June 19, when three residences and an office were searched. According to sources, the inquiries focus on accusations of illegally selling appointment slots. A prosecutor confirmed that raids were conducted under provisions of the German Criminal Code.

Engelhard Mazanke, the head of the LEA, informed staff about the ongoing investigations related to allegations of appointment sales for profit. He emphasized that the current situation reflects an initial suspicion rather than concrete evidence of wrongdoing, cautioning against assumptions that any employee has exploited clients' urgent needs for appointments.

In a separate investigation on July 17, the General Public Prosecutor's Office conducted searches due to suspicions of bribery. This case involves a 38-year-old employee at the agency who is being investigated for allegedly issuing citizenship documents to a family from North Macedonia. The claims suggest that this individual unlawfully processed the family's applications despite their withdrawal from the naturalization process and without proper jurisdiction over their cases. It is alleged that he falsified signatures, used a stamp improperly, and subsequently deleted the family's immigration records using unauthorized access to a colleague's account.

As Berlin aims to grant 40,000 citizenships this year, Interior Minister Dobrindt is advocating for thorough vetting processes in the issuance of passports. The rising number of naturalization applications has raised concerns among opposition parties, who are criticizing the accelerated citizenship process.

In response to inquiries about the situation, Mayor Kai Wegner has refrained from commenting publicly, though he has previously stated that misuse of the citizenship process is becoming increasingly challenging due to digital tracking measures. He firmly declared that the German citizenship will not be commodified.

From the office of Interior Senator Iris Spranger, it was reported that there is no evidence to suggest that the volume of citizenship applications is a contributing factor to corruption within the agency. An Anti-Corruption Working Group is currently developing new administrative guidelines to combat corruption in Berlin's public administration.