Despite concerns from Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, Germany's interior ministry plans to proceed with deporting Syrian refugees. Wadephul expressed shock at the destruction in Syria and cautioned against returns. The ministry cites the coalition agreement and is working on deals with Damascus.
The German federal government holds differing views on deporting Syrian refugees. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) appeared skeptical during a trip through Syria. He visited a devastated suburb of Damascus and was shocked by the destruction. "Here, hardly any people can really live with dignity," Wadephul said. He estimates that returns of Syrian refugees from Germany are only very limited possible at the current time, as much infrastructure is destroyed. Wadephul does not expect a large number of voluntary returnees in the near future.
Nevertheless, the CSU-led Federal Interior Ministry is sticking to its plans. "The federal government agreed in the coalition treaty that deportations to Syria will be carried out, starting with criminals," a spokesperson told the RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland (RND). The ministry is currently working on an agreement with Syria to enable returns. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) wants to implement deportations this year.
Since the end of September 2025, the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (Bamf) has resumed processing asylum applications from young, working-age, single Syrian men. In mid-October, the head of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Syria warned against forced returns. "Syria is at its limit, the reception capacity is already exhausted," he told the Süddeutsche Zeitung. Around one million Syrians have returned from neighboring countries, and the situation remains precarious.