The German federal government has continued deportations of criminals to Afghanistan at the start of 2025. Two Afghan criminals were recently deported, using a new mechanism. Regular returns are expected.
At the start of the new year, the German federal government continued its deportations to Afghanistan. According to the Federal Ministry of the Interior, both Afghans were criminals. A spokesperson confirmed a report in the "Bild" newspaper about the return of a man from Bavaria, multiple convicted for serious assault and drug offenses. "Federal police handed the man and consular papers to Taliban officials at the airport," the report stated.
A newly established individual deportation mechanism was applied. On Friday, another Afghan criminal was sent back by commercial flight. "This was already the third criminal who could be deported in a short time with the new mechanism," the spokesperson said. Overall, 83 criminals have been returned to Afghanistan in 2025 so far.
"It is planned that returns to Afghanistan and Syria will take place regularly and routinely by commercial flights," the spokesperson explained. Shortly before Christmas, federal police had taken a multiple-convicted criminal from Bavaria to Kabul. Bavaria's Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann (CSU) emphasized: "We are serious about the regular deportations to Afghanistan."
The previous government of SPD, FDP, and Greens had suspended deportations due to the Taliban takeover. Under Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU), they were resumed. The ministry coordinated with "representatives of the Afghan de-facto government." Dobrindt told "Focus": "Deportations to Afghanistan should be implemented regularly and routinely. Society has an interest in criminals leaving the country."
Overall, deportations rose last year: 21,311 people were returned by November. A 20 percent increase is expected for 2025. Before Christmas, the first deportation to Syria since the civil war occurred, with a convicted criminal to Damascus. The Union-SPD coalition agreement states: "We will deport to Afghanistan and Syria – starting with criminals and threats." In Germany, 940,401 Syrians and 448,744 Afghans live with varying residence statuses.
