11,500 Afghans threatened with expulsion as Germany expands deportation operations
The German government is preparing to make a significant shift in its immigration policy by expanding the deportation of Afghan citizens. According to reports, future deportations will not be limited to charter flights but will also occur through regular flights, allowing for the process to be carried out on a larger and more regular scale.
So far, deportations to Afghanistan have been rare. Since the Taliban took power in the summer of 2021, only two flights have been organized. In late 2024, 28 Afghans convicted of serious crimes were deported, followed by a deportation operation that included 81 people in July 2025. Authorities are now seeking to move away from these limited operations and make deportation a routine procedure.
To implement this, the Federal Ministry of the Interior, led by Alexander Dobrindt (CSU), entered into negotiations with the Taliban. Talks took place in Qatar earlier this month, and Berlin is currently considering sending officials directly to Kabul to continue the discussions. Qatar is playing the role of mediator in these negotiations.
The German government is under increasing pressure. Between 2015 and 2024, the police recorded more than 108,000 serious crimes committed or involving suspects of Afghan origin. Among the approximately 461,000 Afghans living in Germany, there are about 347,600 asylum seekers, while around 11,500 people are required to leave the country. Authorities emphasize that relying on separate charter flights is insufficient to address these numbers.
However, refugee organizations strongly oppose the plan. Organizations like "Pro Asyl" have warned that Afghanistan is still unsafe, and that deportations could violate international law that prohibits returning individuals to countries where they may face torture or inhumane treatment. Critics warn that Germany's new strategy could put vulnerable individuals at serious risk.