Over 11,000 Afghans in Germany - Dobrindt plans deportations!

Over 11,000 Afghans in Germany - Dobrindt plans deportations!

There are currently over 11,000 Afghans living in Germany who are obliged to leave the country. As of May 31, 2025, the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees counts 11,423 Afghan citizens with this status, of which 9,602 people have a toleration permit, which means a temporary suspension of deportation but does not lift the obligation to leave the country. 1,821 people live without tolerance. It remains unclear how many of these are considered criminals or threats, reports n-tv.

Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) recently announced that he would negotiate directly with the Taliban government in Afghanistan about possible deportations. It is criticized that contacts currently only take place via third countries. However, this initiative is met with resistance from the SPD and the Greens, who reject cooperation with the internationally unrecognized Taliban regime, which is criticized for serious human rights violations. However, Dobrindt's plans to tighten deportation practices - especially for criminals - are supported by his party colleague, Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann. Herrmann emphasizes the need to seriously address and begin deportations to Afghanistan and Syria.

Afghan migrants in Germany

Afghan nationals make up a significant part of the refugee population in Germany. In total, around 476,000 people with a history of immigration from Afghanistan live in the country. Around 375,000 entered the country themselves, many of whom fled after the Taliban came to power in August 2021. Aside from the high number of people who are obliged to leave the country, there are also many who obtained a legal basis for their stay in Germany through special admission procedures, such as the “local staff procedure”.

Between August 2021 and March 2025, 24,777 people received a confirmation of admission as part of this process. There is an increase in the number of asylum applications from Afghan nationals, with 34,149 initial applications already submitted in 2024. This increase reflects the ongoing insecurity and precarious living conditions in Afghanistan, as well as the ongoing influx of people seeking protection.

Challenges and perspectives

Although hampered by political tensions, the federal government is showing a certain level of responsiveness to the needs of Afghans seeking protection. To date, around 252,000 Afghans in Germany are officially recognized as refugees, making them the second largest group of people seeking protection after Syrians. The majority are young men, but women and minors are also well represented among the refugees, which underlines the various challenges in integration.

The pressure on politicians to find a clear and humane solution for the Afghan migrants is increasing. The unclear situation of the Afghans who are obliged to leave the country, combined with the ongoing human rights violations under the Taliban regime, leads to a noticeable area of ​​tension and requires a differentiated approach in order to do justice to the fate of these people.

In summary, it is clear that the current situation for many Afghans in Germany is anything but easy. Their legal uncertainty calls for a forward-looking discussion about the best ways to deal with these complex challenges. Given that developments are slow and many questions remain unanswered, it remains to be seen how the political framework conditions will develop in the near future. For many, there is a lot at stake.