The CSU has not yet published the complete position paper. So far, only excerpts have been made public, which have been reported on by several media outlets. Based on this, we summarize the most important demands below.
Syria: Departure centers and deportations via scheduled flights
The CSU in the Bundestag wants to further tighten migration policy. A key focus of the conference will be Syria. The party is calling for increased repatriation to the country, arguing that for many Syrians, the end of the civil war has removed the original reason for protection on the basis of which they were granted protection in Germany.
Against this backdrop, the CSU is calling for a so-called "return roadmap." This would initially focus on voluntary departures. At the same time, the concept envisages initiating repatriation more quickly if people do not leave voluntarily. The passages that have become public explicitly refer to return "if necessary, even against the will" of those affected.
The CSU names criminals and dangerous individuals as the primary target group (as stipulated in the government's coalition agreement ). They are to be deported even more consistently in 2026.
To make deportations easier to organize, the CSU is also calling for new structures. It wants nationwide departure centers where departures can be prepared, coordinated, and expedited. In addition, the party is proposing a dedicated deportation terminal at Munich Airport to centralize repatriations.
Scheduled flights are also mentioned in this context: the CSU wants to make deportations possible not only via special flights, but also via regular flight connections.
Afghanistan: CSU calls for regular repatriations
In addition to Syria, the CSU also names Afghanistan as another target country for repatriation. Overall, the party is talking about a "deportation offensive" in 2026. The goal is to significantly increase deportations and strictly enforce existing departure requirements.
Politically, this means that, according to the CSU, deportations should not only affect criminals in the long term, but also other people with rejected or uncertain residence status.
Automatic loss of protection status when traveling to one's home country
Another proposal from the CSU concerns people with protected status who travel to their country of origin. According to the party's proposal, protected status should automatically lapse in future if those entitled to protection take vacations or undertake private trips to their home country.
The reasoning behind this is that anyone who returns to the country from which they sought protection demonstrates through their behavior that they are no longer in need of protection. Therefore, their protection status should be revoked.
Ukraine: tougher stance – especially on men fit for military service
According to various media reports, refugees from Ukraine are also mentioned in the paper. The CSU demands that Ukrainian men who are fit for military service in particular should contribute to the defense of their country. However, it remains unclear from the passages known so far how this demand is to be implemented in concrete terms.
CSU party leader Markus Söder had already made similar demands in the fall of 2025. The background to this was the relaxation of Ukrainian exit regulations for men aged 18 to 22. At the time, Söder called on both the EU and the German government to exert pressure on Ukraine to reverse the relaxation of these regulations.
If Ukraine does not restrict departures again, the EU must respond and amend the Mass Influx Directive, Söder said in November. However, Söder did not elaborate on what an amendment or tightening of the directive might look like.
Residence & Naturalization: Stricter consequences for extremism and criminal offenses
In terms of residence and citizenship law , the CSU is calling for tougher measures against individuals who violate the free democratic basic order. Public calls for the establishment of an Islamist "caliphate" are to be prosecuted more vigorously in future.
At the same time, it should be easier to impose consequences under residence law. Anyone who rejects the free democratic basic order, calls for its abolition, or commits anti-Semitic crimes should be deported more quickly and Residence permit their Residence permit .
In the case of people with dual citizenship, the CSU is also raising the possibility of revoking German citizenship as a possible consequence.
Asylum seekers: More personal contribution required
The CSU is also calling for changes to social benefits. In future, asylum seekers will be required to use their own assets to cover the costs of their stay in Germany to a greater extent. According to the CSU, this should apply regardless of the country of origin.
Exactly which assets would be affected and to what extent is not yet publicly known.
EU freedom of movement: rules to be tightened
Another issue concerns freedom of movement within the EU. The CSU criticizes the fact that EU citizens are considered employees even if they are only marginally employed, which entitles them to extensive rights—such as the right of residence and social benefits.
The party is therefore calling for a narrower definition of the term "employee." The aim is to link status more closely to actual, relevant gainful employment rather than to working hours.
Strong criticism from other parties – including the CDU
The CSU's demands have been met with criticism across party lines, particularly with regard to possible repatriations to Syria and Afghanistan.
SPD member of parliament Ralf Stegner criticizes the plans in Der Spiegel as "populist politics." According to Stegner, a return to Syria should not be enforced, especially not to "completely destroyed disaster areas." Such a return "cannot be expected."
The deputy chair of the SPD parliamentary group, Sonja Eichwede, pointed to the integration of many of those affected. "A large number of Syrians are extremely well integrated," she said. Many make "a valuable contribution" in jobs subject to social insurance contributions. Repatriations are therefore "always carried out with the specific situation on the ground in mind."
The left wing was particularly vocal in its criticism. Clara Bünger, spokesperson for domestic policy, accused the CSU of pretending that Syria and Afghanistan were safe countries of return. Deportations to regions where violence, arbitrariness, and human rights violations are rife are highly problematic from a legal perspective.
With regard to Ukraine, Bünger also said: "Anyone who now puts pressure on Ukrainian refugees is calling into question the protection of people displaced by war."
Criticism also comes from the sister party, the CDU. Dennis Radtke, chairman of the CDU's employee wing, told the Süddeutsche Zeitung newspaper that he agreed with "90 percent" of the demands. At the same time, he questioned why migration continues to be the focus of so much attention while other important issues are ignored. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has already "delivered" on migration policy—it is enough to continue on this course.
Classification: What do the demands mean for migrants?
Important: A position paper is not yet law.
The CSU's demands will not automatically lead to a change in the current legal situation. Even if the CSU exerts political pressure as part of the federal government, legislative changes would first have to go through the formal legislative process or, in many cases, be agreed upon at the EU level.
For those affected, this means that nothing is changing legally at present. Protected status, Residence permit, social benefits, and naturalization procedures remain unchanged.
Legally, the following still applies:
- Blanket decisions in asylum and residence law are inadmissible.
- Protection status, revocations, expulsions, and deportations must always be examined on a case-by-case basis.
- Factors such as personal risk, length of stay in Germany, family ties, integration, and gainful employment play an important role in assessing residence status.
- Even revoking protection status —for example, due to a trip back to the home country—is currently only possible after a regulated procedure and is not automatic.
For Ukrainian refugees, the following also applies: Their right of residence is based on an EU-wide regulation. Changes would only be possible through decisions at the European level and would take time.
For many migrants, however, it can still be useful to closely follow political developments and keep an eye on their own residence status—especially in the case of temporary permits, ongoing proceedings, or planned trips to their home country.
However, there is no need to panic at present. As long as no new laws are passed or binding regulations are issued, the current legal situation will remain unchanged.
