Germany is witnessing a sharp increase in deportation operations, with Turkey being the primary destination.
Germany has witnessed a sharp increase in the number of deportees this year, with nearly 17,700 people being deported from the country between January and September — a 20% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Turkey topped the list of countries receiving deportees, according to government data released in response to a parliamentary inquiry.
The figures showed that 1,614 people were deported to Turkey, making it the top destination, followed by Georgia with 1,379 deportations. Notably, about one in five deportees was a child or young person. This data was revealed after a question was raised in the Bundestag by the Left Party (Die Linke).
Clara Boinger, the party's spokesperson for internal affairs, strongly criticized this trend, accusing the government of having 'no longer set any limits when it comes to increasing the number of deportees.' She also questioned the decision to return people to countries like Turkey, which, according to her, 'persecutes leftists, Kurds, and political opponents.'
This increase comes as part of the government's efforts to reform immigration policies and expedite deportation processes. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt announced that Germany is also preparing to resume the deportation of Afghan citizens convicted of crimes, through an agreement being negotiated with the Taliban authorities in Kabul.
This move has indeed sparked a wave of criticism from human rights organizations, which warned that returning people to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan could expose them to serious danger. Despite the escalating controversy, the German government insists that speeding up deportations is necessary to maintain the integrity of the asylum system in the country.