Germany expands deportations to Afghanistan beyond criminals and threats

Deportation Flight in Leipzig/Halle. Source: Hendrik Schmidt/dpa

The federal government has paved the way for more deportations to Afghanistan, according to the Hessian Ministry of the Interior. A decree from the ministry states that "the previously existing restrictions on presenting Afghan nationals for identification – criminals and threats – have been lifted."

Interior Minister Roman Poseck (CDU) said in response to an inquiry that the federal government had created the conditions "so that regular deportations of individuals required to leave the country to Afghanistan will be possible in the future." While Hesse's focus will remain on deporting criminals and threats, Poseck added: "But Hesse will also make use of possibilities that go beyond that."

Identification by Taliban Representatives

The presentation for identification mentioned in the decree concerns the preparation of deportations: With representatives of the Islamist Taliban government, authorities attempt to clarify the identity of individuals required to leave the country and, if necessary, issue travel documents. According to the Hessian decree, there are now only a few exceptions to the procedure. The selection criteria remain: male, adult, single, and subject to an enforceable obligation to leave the country.

The federal government's cooperation with the Islamist Taliban has drawn criticism. However, Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) recently rejected such criticism.

Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) reaffirmed on Monday that deportations to countries like Afghanistan would be intensified. He referred to criminals in the context of a deadly attack on a student in Trier.

Criticism from the Refugee Council

The Hessian Refugee Council expressed concern about the expansion of the group of people subject to deportation. "We fundamentally reject deportations to Afghanistan," the organization stated. "But now to drop all restrictions that previously existed and thus also release Afghans without prior convictions for deportation is irresponsible."

Left Party interior politician Clara Bünger said deportations to Afghanistan were being gradually normalized. "In my view, this violates human rights protection regulations."

Hesse's Interior Minister Poseck emphasized, however, that anyone required to leave the country must do so. "The obligation to leave the country also comes at the end of a long rule-of-law process," the CDU politician explained.

A spokesman for the Bavarian Interior Ministry said: "Anyone who has no right of residence or violates applicable laws in Germany must leave our country again." The repatriation of criminals and threats has the highest priority, but rejected asylum seekers who are not in danger must also leave Germany again.

dpa/ll