Persons required to leave the country in the Northeim district: reductions or new challenges?

Persons required to leave the country in the Northeim district: reductions or new challenges?

In the Northeim district there are currently 338 people who are legally obliged to leave the country, like this HNA reported. That is 39 fewer than last year, reflecting the situation of migrants in the region. In the last 12 months, 120 people have left the district voluntarily. A positive sign, but the challenge of repatriation remains, as only 17 people were deported in the period from September 2024 to August 2025.

The deportations represent a coercive measure aimed at removing people without residency rights from Germany. Regulations on this are anchored in the Residence Act, which clearly defines the procedure for such measures. The Federal Agency for Civic Education points out that before the deportation, a written decision is issued by the immigration authorities, which gives the person concerned a period of time to leave the country voluntarily.

Residence status of refugees

The district is mainly home to refugees from Afghanistan, Syria, Turkey, Somalia and Iraq. Currently, 588 refugees have a residence permit, which represents a decrease compared to the previous year, when there were 683. Of the 588 people, 538 have recognized refugee status and 438 are entitled to subsidiary protection. 225 people are banned from deportation.

• Gesamte Flüchtlingszahlen im Landkreis Northeim (Stand 28. September 2025):
• Gesamtzahl anerkannt: 588
• Anerkannte Flüchtlinge: 538
• Subsidiär Schutzberechtigte: 438
• Abschiebeverbote: 225
• Niederlassungserlaubnis: 128

The district's immigration authority applies for deportations to the Lower Saxony state reception authority, with the police providing support in enforcement. A common obstacle to carrying out deportations is the failure to find the people concerned and acts of resistance.

Deportation and legal framework conditions

The deportation regulations are not only a bureaucratic challenge, but also raise legal questions. In Germany there is the possibility of appealing against a deportation decision before an administrative court. If there are humanitarian reasons, such as serious illness or political persecution, a ban on deportation can be obtained. An interesting detail is that 4 of the 17 deported people were transferred to the relevant EU states under the Dublin III Regulation.

The situation is challenging for everyone involved. Returns require detailed planning and extensive security checks to protect the human rights of those affected while complying with legal requirements.

For further information on migration and asylum policy in Europe, please visit European Commission a helpful contact point. Here the entire issue is examined at a European level and it is shown how the various member states deal with migration.