The photograph is for illustrative purposes.

The German public has been shaken by news of an incredible administrative and legal absurdity that has lasted for more than two decades.

As reported by the German newspaper Bild.de, fifty-year-old Huso B., a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina, has been living in Cologne for 23 years without legal status, while at the same time the state pays him high monthly amounts in social assistance.

This case has raised a series of questions about the effectiveness of German institutions and the fairness of the country's social welfare system.

Two decades of residence without a valid permit

Huso B. arrived in Germany many years ago, but his asylum application was finally rejected more than two decades ago. According to claims reported by Bild.de, he has officially been listed for 23 years as a person obliged to leave the country. Nevertheless, despite a clear deportation order, he and his wife with eight children continue to live in Cologne. Although in theory institutions should enforce the decision to return to the home country, administrative obstacles and personal circumstances have evidently prevented that process for years.

The situation is further complicated by information cited by Bild.de, namely that Huso B. has a substantial police record. It is stated that during his stay in Germany he committed criminal offenses several times, which usually speeds up the process of expulsion from the country. However, in this specific case that did not happen, and the family remained integrated into the system of state support.

Financial structure of monthly income

What caused the greatest public uproar was the amount the state allocates monthly for this family. Bild.de reveals that the total monthly support amounts to 7,250.77 euros. It is important to clarify what this amount actually represents so that it can be understood even by those unfamiliar with German regulations. It is a combination of basic social assistance, known as the citizen's allowance, and child benefit for eight children.

In layman's terms, German law guarantees every individual, regardless of legal status, a certain minimum for a dignified life. When that minimum is multiplied by the number of family members, in this case ten of them, the result is an amount that greatly exceeds average workers' salaries. German authorities pay this money because by law they are obliged to provide food, accommodation, and basic necessities for children, even if their parents do not have the right to stay in the country.

Legal paradox and impossibility of deportation

Many wonder how it is possible that a person with a deportation order and a criminal past continues to receive state money. Bild.de explains that German social welfare offices operate independently of foreigners' offices. While one office tries to organize the person's departure from the country, the other office is legally obliged to pay assistance as long as that person is physically present on German soil and has no income of their own.

The fact that the family has eight children represents an additional legal obstacle. According to German and European legislation, protection of the family and the welfare of children often override strict immigration rules. If the home country does not accept the return or if there are health or documentation problems, deportation is postponed indefinitely, and the state assumes the role of guardian.

The case of Huso B. exposed by Bild.de is not just the story of one individual, but a symptom of a deeper systemic problem. It outlines the paradox of the modern European welfare state caught between humanitarian principles and the strict rule of law. While the laws mandate deportation, constitutional rights to a dignified life force taxpayers to finance the stay of those who should not be in the country.

Such examples often serve as fuel for political debates on reforming the social welfare system and stricter migration controls. It is clear that citizens' trust in institutions is undermined when rules are not enforced consistently, and public money is spent on situations that at first glance seem unfair. German authorities now have the task of explaining how this status quo was allowed to last for more than two decades without any concrete solution.