Germany Plans to Deport Afghans Without Criminal Records

A German newspaper has reported that several Afghan nationals without criminal convictions are being held in immigration detention pending deportation, raising questions about whether some recent cases are consistent with Germany’s stated policy of deporting individuals convicted of serious crimes or regarded as threats to public security.

The German daily taz reported that at least five Afghan nationals with no criminal records are currently being held in deportation detention facilities across Germany. According to the newspaper, the findings are based on its own investigation into recent detention cases involving Afghan migrants.

The report said the detainees are facing deportation despite having no known criminal convictions. Germany’s Federal Ministry of the Interior had not publicly commented on the newspaper’s findings at the time of publication.

According to taz, several of the detainees are being held in the southern state of Bavaria, while another Afghan national is being detained in Hesse. The newspaper also reported that a sixth Afghan man, who had been awaiting deportation in Lower Saxony, was temporarily released after refugee support organizations intervened on his behalf.

The newspaper said two of the six Afghan nationals had previously returned to Germany under the European Union’s Dublin Regulation, which determines which member state is responsible for examining an asylum application. The remaining four were reportedly detained by Germany’s Federal Police after re-entering the country.

German authorities have repeatedly maintained that the country’s deportation policy remains focused on individuals who have committed serious crimes or who are regarded as threats to public security. Officials have also said that deportations to Afghanistan are primarily intended for people convicted of violent crimes, sexual offenses, or major drug-related crimes, as well as those classified as security risks.

Germany resumed deportations of Afghan nationals in 2024 after suspending removals following the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in August 2021. The policy shift followed months of political debate over migration and public security, with the German government stating that deportations would be limited to offenders posing significant risks to society.

The first deportation flight under the renewed policy departed in August 2024, when 28 Afghan nationals were returned to Afghanistan with logistical assistance from Qatar. Since then, German authorities have carried out additional deportation flights, with media reports indicating that around 215 Afghan nationals have been deported under the resumed policy.

Human rights organizations and refugee advocacy groups have repeatedly expressed concern about returning Afghan nationals to a country where the humanitarian and human rights situation remains severe. United Nations agencies have also continued to warn of widespread economic hardship, restrictions on fundamental rights, and ongoing protection concerns for many Afghans, particularly women, former government employees, journalists, and civil society activists.

According to the taz investigation, several recent detention cases appear to be inconsistent with Germany’s publicly stated deportation policy, as the individuals concerned reportedly have no criminal convictions.