Germany has officially crossed a major diplomatic threshold.
On Tuesday, authorities executed the first deportation to Syria since the outbreak of the nation’s civil war 14 years ago. This decisive move signals a hardening of Berlin’s migration policy, as the government prioritizes internal security over previous humanitarian hesitations.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s administration is moving quickly to quell voter discontent. Faced with the surging popularity of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), the government is aggressively fulfilling its pledge to remove foreign nationals who break the law.
Germany Resumes Deportations of Violent Offenders
The restart of returns is not limited to Syria.
In a coordinated effort to secure the borders, the Interior Ministry also confirmed a deportation to Afghanistan on the same day. This marks the second expulsion to Afghanistan in just one week.
According to officials, the individuals targeted were convicted criminals with serious records:
-
The Syrian National: Handed over to officials in Damascus, he had served time in north-western Germany for aggravated robbery, extortion, and bodily harm.
-
The Afghan National: Previously imprisoned in southern Bavaria, he was deported following a conviction for intentional bodily harm.
“Legitimate Interest” in Safety
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt strongly defended the operations. He argued that the state’s obligation to protect law-abiding citizens supersedes the risks associated with returning offenders to unstable regions.
“Our society has a legitimate interest in ensuring that criminals leave our country,” Dobrindt stated.
He further emphasized that repatriations to both nations must remain a standard tool for law enforcement moving forward.
A Political and Social Turning Point
This policy shift addresses a central friction point in German politics.
Approximately one million Syrians currently live in Germany, a demographic reality shaped by the open-door policies of the last decade. However, the public mood has shifted. Migration is now a top voter concern, pressuring the government to demonstrate strict control.
While the government cites the end of the Syrian civil war last year as justification for the returns, the move has drawn sharp criticism. Human rights advocates argue that sending individuals back to these territories exposes them to unacceptably high risks. Despite this, the Merz administration maintains that deporting criminals is essential to restoring public trust.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
U.S. Enforces Sweeping Visa Freeze for Nigerians Starting New Year’s Day
