The German Merz discusses the deportation of 22,000 Turks during his visit to Ankara
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is set to urge Turkey to accept the return of thousands of rejected asylum seekers during his visit to Ankara this week. This visit, his first since taking office in May, comes amid increasing internal pressure in Berlin to reduce irregular migration.
According to a German government source, Merz will demand "additional practical steps" to enhance cooperation in deportation processes, after what officials described as "initial progress in recent months." President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is scheduled to meet in Ankara on Thursday, where discussions will address issues of migration, trade, and security. Government spokesman Sebastian Hille confirmed that the agenda also includes "bilateral issues and foreign policy," as well as relations between the European Union and Turkey, including ongoing dialogues on trade and migration.
The German Ministry of the Interior reported that 17,651 people were deported during the first nine months of 2025, compared to 14,706 in the same period last year. Turkish citizens made up the largest proportion, with 1,614 people deported, highlighting Turkey's role as the largest country of origin among those required to leave Germany. The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) also clarified that by the end of September, there were 22,560 Turkish citizens awaiting deportation, and Berlin is seeking to enhance cooperation with Ankara to expedite this process.
The broader German government strategy on migration includes the resumption of deportations to Syria, based on what it describes as a "improvement in security conditions" under the new leadership in Damascus, a step that may raise additional sensitivities during talks in Ankara due to the close relations between Turkey and the Syrian government.
Since taking office, Merz has imposed stricter measures on borders, residency, and citizenship, and his government has resumed deportations to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, a move that has sparked widespread controversy in Germany. Merz has faced severe criticism recently after stating that immigration "harms the image of some German cities," leading to angry responses from his coalition partners in the SPD party and protests from immigrant advocacy organizations.
With more than 22,000 Turkish citizens threatened with deportation and rising political tensions surrounding the immigration issue, Merz's visit to Ankara could be crucial in shaping the next phase of Germany's immigration policy and foreign relations.