Germany Begins Deportation of Dangerous Syrians ... What Does This Mean for the Future of Refugees?

The German Interior Ministry has announced the start of procedures to deport Syrians with criminal records who are considered security threats, days after Austria became the first EU country to take similar steps.

According to an official at the ministry, the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees has been tasked with taking necessary actions against "dangerous and criminal Syrians," emphasizing that committing serious crimes is grounds for revoking asylum protection, which may lead to refugee status being withdrawn.

This decision is part of the German coalition government agreement led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the Social Democrats, which includes deporting criminals to countries like Syria and Afghanistan, with an initial focus on offenders and those posing threats to public security, in cooperation with the relevant Syrian authorities.

Ministry statistics show that the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees opened over 3500 files between January and May 2025, some of which may result in the cancellation of asylum rights for Syrian citizens, with refugee status revoked in 57 cases and other forms of protection withdrawn in an additional 22 cases.

At the same time, around 800 Syrians have voluntarily returned to their homeland under Germany's supported voluntary return program, which has been joined by approximately 2000 individuals so far.

Currently, there are nearly one million Syrians living in Germany, most of whom arrived during the major wave of displacement between 2015 and 2016. However, following the fall of President Bashar al-Assad's regime in December 2024, several European countries, including Germany and Austria, suspended asylum procedures related to Syrians amid political pressures and campaigns by far-right parties against the continued acceptance of Syrian refugees.

This move reflects a clear shift in European countries' policies towards Syrian refugees, focusing on reassessing their legal and security situations amidst ongoing political and security developments in the region.