In a unified stance underscoring Germany’s tougher approach to migration and security, all federal states have endorsed the Interior Minister’s plan to resume deporting individuals with criminal records to Afghanistan and Syria.
Kabul 24: This decision, driven by growing public and political concerns, highlights Germany’s effort to balance national security with its migration policies amid heated debates over human rights.
On Friday, during a conference of state interior ministers, a resolution was unanimously passed, calling on the federal government to regularly deport convicted criminals and those posing security risks to countries like Afghanistan and Syria.
Alexander Schweitzer, chair of the conference, stressed that future deportations should expand to include other individuals threatening public safety. “This is about protecting our communities,” he noted, reflecting the consensus among Germany’s 16 states, spurred by rising incidents of migrant-related crime.The policy shift follows significant events.
After the Islamic Emirate’s rise in Afghanistan in August 2021, Germany paused deportations due to humanitarian concerns.
However, a deadly knife attack in Mannheim in May 2024 by an Afghan migrant, which claimed a police officer’s life and injured others, prompted a policy reversal.
In June 2024, then-Chancellor Olaf Scholz vowed to restart deportations of criminals to Afghanistan and Syria.
By August 2024, Germany executed its first deportation flight, sending 28 Afghan criminals from Leipzig to Kabul, facilitated by Qatar.Under Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government in July 2025, a second deportation flight carried 81 Afghan nationals with criminal records.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt declared, “Serious offenders forfeit their right to stay in Germany.”
The government is collaborating with regional partners like Qatar and Uzbekistan to ensure smooth deportations. In October 2025, German officials met with Taliban authorities in Kabul—the first direct engagement since 2021—to organize regular deportation flights, potentially influencing other European policies.
Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have condemned the deportations, citing risks of torture and insecurity in Afghanistan.
The UN has also raised alarms over forced returns. Yet, German states prioritize citizen safety, targeting only criminals. With over 22,000 Afghan asylum applications in early 2024, Germany faces ongoing migration pressures.
The Merz administration’s hardline stance signals a pivotal shift, aiming to deter crime while navigating diplomatic and ethical challenges.
