(Gemini Audio)
(de-news.net) – Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) has confirmed that negotiations to reinstate deportation procedures for rejected asylum seekers will soon commence with both the Syrian government and the Taliban-led administration in Afghanistan. This development marks a notable shift in Germany’s migration policy, which has long been constrained by armed conflict and the absence of formal diplomatic relations with the respective regimes.
“The proposed agreement with Syria should be finalized before the end of the year,” Dobrindt stated in a recent press interview. He outlined a phased approach to deportations, beginning with individuals convicted of criminal offenses and subsequently extending to those residing in Germany without legal status. The minister emphasized the necessity of differentiating between asylum seekers who are employed and socially integrated, and those who are not. Preparatory discussions with Syrian officials in Damascus are expected to begin imminently.
Germany suspended all deportations to Syria in 2012 due to the outbreak of civil war. However, following the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad last December, conditions have evolved. Since then, approximately 1,900 Syrian nationals have voluntarily returned to their country of origin with financial assistance from the German government. Nevertheless, as of late July, the Central Register of Foreigners recorded around 955,000 Syrian citizens still residing in Germany.
Concurrently, the federal government is preparing to reinitiate deportation talks with the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. According to a media report confirmed by a spokesperson from the Interior Ministry, German officials are scheduled to travel to Kabul in October to engage in direct negotiations with local authorities. Dobrindt reaffirmed the importance of enabling regular deportations of individuals deemed criminal offenders or security risks, underscoring the need for renewed cooperation with Afghan counterparts.
Following the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021, Germany suspended deportations to Afghanistan for a period of three years and ceased formal diplomatic engagement with the regime. Nonetheless, the practice resumed last year. In July alone, German authorities deported 81 Afghan nationals with criminal convictions, reflecting the government’s commitment to enforcing immigration regulations with greater consistency.
