Croatia’s interior minister, Davor Božinović, said on Tuesday that state institutions are available to assist citizens facing legal and social difficulties, responding to claims by a Croatian national who was recently deported from the United States and said he received no help from authorities upon his return.
The comments came after Sandro Silajdžić, a Croatian citizen, publicly complained that the Ministry of the Interior had failed to support him in resolving his legal status following his deportation from the United States.
“Croatian citizens have all the rights afforded to Croatian citizens,” Mr. Božinović said after a meeting of the presidency and national committee of the ruling HDZ. “There are institutions that can provide assistance, particularly the ministry responsible for social affairs. It is not accurate to say that the state does not know how to deal with such situations.”
Mr. Božinović added that deportations are a routine occurrence and not limited to exceptional cases. According to the ministry, approximately 7,300 people were deported from Croatia in the past year, a figure he cited to underscore that removals and returns are part of daily administrative processes involving international migration and residency enforcement.
The case has drawn public attention amid broader discussions about migration, citizenship rights, and the responsibilities of governments toward nationals returning after forced removals abroad. While deportation from the United States does not in itself affect Croatian citizenship, returnees often face challenges related to housing, employment, and access to social services.