Chancellor Friedrich Merz has announced that Germany will restart the deportation of migrants to Syria following some confusion and mixed communications from the government in Berlin.
“The civil war in Syria has concluded. There is no longer justification for asylum in Germany, so we can initiate deportations,” Merz stated on Monday evening.
Germany’s long-term open borders policy, which was notably supported by former Chancellor Angela Merkel during the 2015 influx of mass immigration, has attracted migrants, with nearly 1 million Syrians settling in the country.
However, this presence has sparked growing controversy, particularly after terrorist incidents linked to asylum seekers from Syria, including a mass stabbing at last year’s Diversity Festival in Solingen that claimed three lives and injured six others.
The government acknowledged earlier this year that Syrian immigration had ceased, revealing that Syrians are significantly more likely to be associated with crime. For instance, German-born individuals are suspected of crimes at a rate of 10,587 per 100,000, compared to 1,879 for Syrian immigrants.
With rising public demands for stricter deportation policies and the emergence of the anti-mass immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, Merz committed to beginning the process of removing migrants, including individuals from countries like Afghanistan and Syria. He mentioned he would also encourage voluntary returns but added, “Those who refuse to leave Germany can certainly be deported in the near future.”
Nevertheless, there seems to be a divide within Merz’s coalition, which he formed earlier this year by aligning with the defeated Social Democratic Party instead of the AfD.
Foreign Minister Johan Wadeplu has expressed doubt about the return of many Syrians from Germany. After visiting Syria, he indicated that the possibility for significant returns is currently quite limited due to extensive damage to infrastructure caused by the war.
On Tuesday, Wadeplu emphasized that he and the Chancellor’s positions are still being defined and that they aim to increase the number of deportations to Syria, particularly those involving criminals and terrorists. However, he reiterated concerns about the destruction making it hard for returning migrants to “lead a dignified life there.”
This conflicting messaging has attracted criticism from within Merz’s party. A foreign policy analyst pointed out that there has been much discussion without action, saying, “The minister has been misrepresenting facts, and then nothing happens for days with no apparent plan.”
Others have blamed Merz himself, arguing he should establish a consistent narrative for the government, yet nothing changes. Once the damage occurs, silence follows, including from the Chancellor.
Katharina Drege, leader of the Green Party in the Bundestag, noted, “Every time the foreign minister makes a statement, it’s met with skepticism from party members.”
