Raid in Bielefeld: Employees of the immigration authorities are stated to have offered residence permits | EUROtoday

Employees of the immigration authority in Bielefeld are suspected of getting accepted cash and issued residence permits in return. A complete of 4 persons are being investigated for bribery and corruption in addition to granting and accepting benefits, because the Bielefeld public prosecutor’s workplace confirmed to WDR.

Two of the accused work for town of Bielefeld, the opposite two are an interpreter and an individual who initially obtained a residence allow and is alleged to have helped the suspects.

The accused are stated to have accepted cash for so-called settlement permits. There are 15 suspected circumstances between September 2023 and April 2025. There can be a doable additional case in October 2025. In one case, 4,000 euros are stated to have been paid. As the “Neue Westfälische” reviews, the general public prosecutor’s workplace assumes {that a} complete of a minimum of 60,000 euros have been paid for all permits issued.

According to the newspaper, the interpreter is alleged to have accepted bribes in an effort to make appointments faster. Depending on their considerations, the authority’s clients could have to attend months for an appointment. The interpreter is suspected of getting exploited his relationships within the authority and accumulating cash for his providers.

The Bielefeld public prosecutor’s workplace carried out searches on the accused in November and December 2025. These occurred at non-public addresses and workplaces and, in line with WDR data, additionally in places of work of town’s immigration workplace. Smartphones, laptops and paperwork have been confiscated. These at the moment are being evaluated.

When requested by WDR, town of Bielefeld stated it was cooperating with the accountable investigative authorities. According to a spokesman, the accused workers is not going to work for town till the proceedings have been legally concluded.

A settlement allow is a everlasting residence allow. This applies to a so-called specialist. Applicants should meet varied circumstances. This contains, for instance, a residence allow that has been legitimate for a minimum of 5 years or if contributions to a pension insurance coverage have been made for a minimum of 60 months. In addition, livelihoods should be secured and ample language expertise should be demonstrated.