Afghanistan Peace Campaign
Germany’s new government plans to expand deportations to Afghanistan, targeting rejected asylum seekers amid growing political pressure and migration concerns.
According to Deutsche Welle on Thursday, April 10, the plan aims to return around 200,000 individuals who currently hold a “tolerated” (Duldung) immigration status. This marks a significant shift in Germany’s approach to managing migration challenges.
Among those most affected are Afghan migrants, who make up one of the largest asylum-seeking communities in Germany. The new policy reportedly includes accelerating the process of returning Afghan nationals to their home country.
Thorsten Frei, head of the Christian Democratic Union’s parliamentary group, told Bild newspaper: “We will carry out deportations and return flights to Afghanistan and Syria. The German people can count on this promise.”
Over the past decade, tens of thousands of Afghans have sought asylum in Germany, fleeing war, insecurity, and threats from the Taliban. Many of them remain under “tolerated” status—lacking permanent residency but not deported due to safety concerns in their home country.
The first deportation flight to Afghanistan since the Taliban’s return to power occurred in August 2024, with 28 Afghan men convicted of criminal offenses returned to Kabul via a Qatar-mediated agreement. The flight was seen as a trial step toward broader deportation efforts.
The incoming government’s new deportation policy, expected to take effect after the February 2025 elections, is likely to extend beyond criminal offenders and include all rejected asylum seekers—raising concerns among migrant rights groups.