German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has stated that the federal government aims to reach an agreement with Syria this year to allow the deportation of rejected asylum seekers.

"We want to reach an agreement with Syria this year and initially deport criminals, followed later by those without legal residence," Dobrindt told the Rheinische Post in remarks published on Saturday (September 27).

"It is important to distinguish between people who are well integrated and working, and those without asylum rights who rely on social benefits," he said.

According to the minister, talks with Syria are expected to begin "shortly." He also stated that he had instructed the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) to partially resume previously suspended asylum procedures for Syrians, preparing the groundwork for future deportations.

Germany has not carried out deportations to Syria since 2012 due to the civil war and ongoing security concerns.

Though numbers remain low, the Interior Ministry reports a gradual increase in voluntary returns of Syrian nationals following the fall of leader Bashar al-Assad in December of last year. As of the end of August, 1,867 individuals had returned to Syria with support from the German government.

As of late July, nearly 955,000 Syrian nationals were registered as residing in Germany, according to the Central Register of Foreigners (AZR). In 2024, approximately 83,150 Syrians obtained German citizenship.

Germany calls for deportations to Afghanistan

Dobrindt also addressed deportations to Afghanistan, calling for a more structured and consistent approach. "My goal is to deport regularly and systematically. At present, this is only possible with support from the emirate of Qatar," he said.

"In the future, I would like this to be organized without intermediaries, which requires direct talks with the authorities in Kabul," he added, referring to the discussions as "technical."

Germany currently maintains no diplomatic relations with the Taliban, who regained control of Afghanistan in August 2021 and continue to face international isolation over human rights and women's rights violations. Since then, only two deportation flights to Afghanistan have been carried out from Germany, both with Qatar’s assistance and involving convicted criminals.

With dpa