Deportations from Germany rise sharply over past two years

Germany deported 19,538 people over the first 10 months of this year, around a fifth more than in the same period last year, the Interior Ministry reported on Sunday.

The rise compared with the first 10 months of 2023 was even higher at 45%.

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, who has been in office since the beginning of May this year, told Sunday's Bild newspaper, "It's about control, direction and clear lines in migration policy, and that applies to returns as well."

Dobrindt added: "We will continue to pursue this course consistently and are preparing deportations to Syria and Afghanistan."

At the end of last month, Dobrindt said that talks on deportations between German government representatives and Afghanistan's Taliban government were close to conclusion.

Markus Söder, head of the Bavaria-based Christian Social Union (CSU) and a key partner in Chancellor Friedrich Merz's coalition government, said on Saturday that the aim was to organize "a deportation offensive next year that must then take place."

Speaking after a closed-doors meeting of the CSU in Munich, Söder specifically mentioned Syria and Afghanistan. He has also proposed a dedicated deportation terminal for Munich airport.