Significantly more deportations in 2025
The number of deportations has risen significantly in the first ten months of 2025. This is according to figures from the Federal Ministry of the Interior, which have been picked up by several media outlets, including Bild am Sonntag.
Accordingly, around 19,530 people were returned to their countries of origin between January and October 2025. This corresponds to an increase of around 18% compared to the same period last year. On average, around 65 people were deported every day.
Compared to the period from January to October 2023, there has even been an increase of around 45%. Overall, Germany has recorded the sharpest decline in the number of people required to leave the country for several years.
Syria and Afghanistan: Dobrindt wants to increase the number of deportations
Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) described the rising number of deportations as part of a deliberate political strategy. "It's about control, direction and a clear edge in migration policy - this also applies to deportations," he told Bild am Sonntag. The federal government wants to continue this course and is therefore also considering deportations to countries to which little or no deportations have been carried out for years.
Deportations to Syria and Afghanistan in particular are coming back into focus. Deportations to both countries were banned for a long time because the security situation was considered too dangerous. According to Dobrindt, however, the Ministry of the Interior is now investigating specific options for repatriations and talks with the respective governments of the countries.
There are also new political debates and developments in the case of Syria. For example, the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) is currently making more decisions on Syrian asylum applications. According to official figures, 3,134 procedures were completed in October alone. The protection rate is extremely low. Only 0.8 percent of Syrian applicants were granted protection status.
While the BAMF is once again actively deciding on Syrian asylum applications, the German government is intensively discussing possible repatriations. Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) recently called for a resumption of deportations. "The civil war in Syria is over. There are now no more grounds for asylum in Germany - and that is why we can also start with repatriations," he said.
Federal government discusses laws for more repatriations
In the coalition agreement, the current federal government consisting of the CDU/CSU and SPD agreed to create measures to significantly increase the number of returns. In order to implement this, various legal changes are currently being examined or prepared.
The planned measures include:
- Abolition of the mandatory lawyer in custody pending deportation: Until now, people in custody pending deportation and custody to leave the country have been entitled to a mandatory lawyer. The coalition wants to abolish this entitlement in order to simplify the procedures.
- More powers for the Federal Police: There are plans to involve the Federal Police more intensively in repatriations and to extend their powers of control.
- Expansion of deportation detention and exit custody: The government is planning to create additional places in deportation detention centers. There is a particular focus on the permanent detention of dangerous individuals and criminals in so-called exit detention.
- New infrastructure for repatriations: According to various media reports, a new deportation terminal is to be built in Munich that will be available exclusively to the Federal Police in order to bundle and simplify the organization of returns.
Important: The draft laws for the implementation of the measures are currently being discussed in the Bundestag. However, a final decision has not yet been made.
CSU calls for deportation offensive for 2026
Bavaria's Minister President Markus Söder (CSU) also supports the plans and is calling for additional measures. At a closed meeting in Munich at the weekend, he declared that there must be "more speed, significantly more speed". He announced a "deportation offensive" for 2026, with the aim of further increasing the number of deportations - explicitly also towards Syria and Afghanistan.
At the same time, Söder spoke out in favor of integrating people with legal residence status into the labor market more quickly. "Anyone who is allowed to work and wants to work should be able to start immediately," he said. However, anyone who has no prospects of staying and no long-term Tolerance permit must leave Germany.
Conclusion: What those affected can do now
The current figures make it clear that Germany is currently pursuing a much stricter asylum policy. With the planned changes to the law, this trend could continue in the coming months.
For people with a Tolerance permit or people with ongoing asylum procedures, this means that decisions could be implemented more quickly and errors in applications or missing evidence can have serious consequences.
What those affected can do now:
- Check residence status: Those affected should check exactly which Residence permit they currently have, which deadlines are running and whether any documents are missing. Even those with tolerated status often have the opportunity to improve their status - for example by applying for training or employment toleration, hardship applications or Residence permit for well-integrated young people.
- Seek legal advice at an early stage: As a result of the planned changes, legal remedies could expire more quickly or become more difficult in the future. It is therefore important to seek support from specialist lawyers for migration law or advice centers at an early stage. A professional examination can clarify whether an objection or legal action has a chance of success - and what alternatives exist.
- Collect documents and evidence: Many Residence permit depend on specific supporting documents, e.g. training and employment contracts, school certificates, rental agreements, medical certificates or language and integration certificates. If you submit these early and in full, you often have a better chance with applications and extensions.
- Adhere to deadlines: It is particularly important to adhere to deadlines - both for applications and appeals. Missing a deadline may mean that a decision becomes legally binding.
- Act immediately if deportation is imminent: If a deportation is announced or an official letter arrives, legal help should be sought immediately. Lawyers can check whether an urgent application is possible or whether protective reasons (e.g. health risks or missing papers) can be put forward.
