In a notable shift in Germany’s migration policies, the country has deported 30% more people so far this year compared to the same period in 2023, according to a report by the German news agency DPA. This increase in deportations coincides with a decline in asylum applications, as revealed by official government figures.
According to statistics, as of June 7th, Germany had deported 6,316 individuals, a significant rise from the 4,792 deportations recorded during the same period last year. The total number of deportations in 2023 stood at 16,430, while in 2022, an estimated 12,945 people were deported from Germany.
The majority of deportations in recent years have been to North Macedonia, Georgia, Austria, and other countries within the European Union (EU). Germany is able to deport individuals to other EU nations under the Dublin agreement, which stipulates that asylum seekers must complete their applications in the first EU country they entered.
Contributing to the surge in deportations is the Repatriation Improvement Act, which came into effect in February. This law tightened deportation rules for people convicted of criminal offenses or proven members of criminal organizations. Additionally, it granted authorities expanded powers over non-offending asylum seekers, including longer detention periods and the ability to search their accommodation and mobile phones.
Last week, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced plans to explore the possibility of deporting individuals back to Afghanistan and Syria, countries previously considered unsafe for deportations due to ongoing conflicts. This announcement followed a knife attack in Mannheim, southwestern Germany, where an Afghan national allegedly killed a German police officer and injured four others.
While deportations have increased, the number of asylum applications in Germany has continued to decline. From January to May this year, the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) reported 103,467 applications, a 17.6% decrease compared to the same period in 2023.
Approximately one-third of asylum seekers were Syrian nationals, followed by those from Afghanistan and Turkey. Out of the 131,750 applications for international protection decided so far this year, only 46.8% were granted protected status, while 35,892 were rejected, and 34,183 cases were terminated for various reasons, such as applicants withdrawing their applications.
The European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) reported that countries in the EU, Switzerland, and Norway (EU+) received 1.14 million asylum applications in 2023, marking a seven-year high. Germany received the highest number of applications, with 334,000 – nearly a third of the total.
Notably, the recent European Parliament election results as of June 10th showed substantial gains for far-right parties, which generally hold strong anti-migration stances. Their increased presence in parliament is expected to impact future migration policies, potentially leading to further tightening of immigration regulations and deportation measures across the EU.
As Germany grapples with the complexities of migration, the rise in deportations and the decline in asylum applications reflect a shifting landscape shaped by new laws, security concerns, and the growing influence of far-right parties. The delicate balance between upholding international obligations, addressing security risks, and shaping migration policies will likely remain a contentious issue in the coming years.