Germany’s new coalition government is expected to push forward with plans to deport certain categories of Syrian nationals as soon as conditions allow. The move comes amid ongoing debates about migration policy and the return of individuals who have been denied asylum or are considered security risks.
Outgoing Interior Minister Nancy Faeser and her Austrian counterpart recently had to cancel a planned visit to Syria due to unspecified security concerns. The visit was meant to facilitate discussions on deportation procedures. Despite the setback, the German Interior Ministry remains committed to ensuring that Syrian nationals convicted of serious crimes or deemed threats to national security are returned as soon as feasible.
Lars Castellucci, a member of the Interior Ministry parliamentary committee, acknowledged the security risks in Syria but emphasized that they should not prevent deportations. He warned that imposing another deportation ban could send “the wrong signal,” encouraging more Syrians to come to Germany under the impression that they could stay indefinitely.
Germany has not deported anyone to Syria since 2012, but the government recently introduced a voluntary return program. Under this initiative, Syrian families can receive up to €4,000 in financial assistance to facilitate their return. However, as of mid-February, only 40 people had taken advantage of the program, with a total of 133 Syrians voluntarily returning to their home country in the past year.
Germany currently hosts nearly one million Syrian nationals. Approximately 10,231 have been informed that they should return once conditions improve, while around 9,156 have been granted “Duldung” status, meaning their stay is temporarily tolerated. Additionally, over 53,000 asylum claims from Syrians remain in limbo as the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) has paused decisions on new applications.
