Deportations of Syrians in Hesse: Poseck calls for clear regulations!

Deportations of Syrians in Hesse: Poseck calls for clear regulations!

Almost 60,000 Syrians currently live in Hesse, 17,193 of whom have subsidiary protection status. Interior Minister Roman Poseck (CDU) has now formulated clear demands on the state government: He is aiming for regular deportations of Syrians who are obliged to leave the country. However, this initiative has come under criticism as the security situation in Syria is still considered extremely tense. Poseck argues that the fall of the Assad dictatorship in December 2024 means that the reason for protection for many Syrian refugees no longer exists.

The situation is complex: In Hesse, 433 Syrians are required to leave the country, of which 372 have already left voluntarily in 2025. Poseck emphasizes that the asylum system must not be misused as an immigration system and calls for measures to avoid false incentives for irregular migration. However, well-integrated Syrians with a permanent residence status should be able to stay, which further stimulates the discussion.

Concerns about the possibility of returning

The criticism of the deportation demands is no coincidence. The Kurdish woman Biroz Hannan, who lives in Hesse, is cautiously optimistic about possible return opportunities, but also sees many challenges that come with a return to her home country. Opinions within the Syrian community are divided: While the older generation is more likely to think about returning, many younger people are well integrated into society and show no interest in taking the step.

The return movements to Syria are now gaining momentum. In December 2024, the Islamist HTS militia overthrew the regime of President Bashar Al-Assad. According to an estimate by the UNHCR, around one million Syrians have already returned from abroad since November 2024. These include around 510,000 from Turkey, 270,000 from Lebanon and 157,000 from Jordan. As part of a federal-state program, Syrian citizens have also been able to return to Germany since January 2025. By the end of October 2025, there had been around 2,900 departures through this program, which includes travel costs, grants and financial support.

Insecure situation and humanitarian challenges

Despite the return options, the security situation in Syria remains unstable. International reports confirm a dramatic life and human rights situation, which represents a major challenge, especially for vulnerable people such as women and children. The majority of Syrian internally displaced people who fled the civil war continue to rely on humanitarian assistance. Large parts of the country have been destroyed and around 16.7 million people need support.

Politically, the country faces an uncertain future. Following the fall of the regime, decisions on asylum applications from Syrian nationals were temporarily suspended. The UNHCR currently sees no conditions for revoking refugee status and warns of possible deportations. The debate about how to deal with Syrian refugees who have come to Germany since 2011 continues to be intense.

The challenge of combining the interests of integration and return policy remains a dynamic issue. It remains to be seen how the situation in Hesse and Syria will develop and whether those responsible have a good knack for making the right decisions.