The Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) and Social Democratic Party (SPD) coalition that came to power in Germany in May 2025 aims to significantly increase the number of people to be deported from the country.
Therefore, the heated debate in Berlin was sparked when Federal Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul recently stated that it is difficult for Syrian refugees to return quickly to their countries after his short visit to Damascus. Wadephul also used the phrase “Almost no one here can truly lead a dignified life” during his visit to a suburb of Damascus heavily affected by the Syrian civil war.
Targeted by criticism within his own party, Wadephul received a distant response from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Merz said, “The civil war in Syria has ended. There is now no reason to seek asylum in Germany. Therefore, we can also start deportations.”
Merz pointed out that Wadephul visited an especially damaged area of Damascus and tried to downplay the disagreement with the Minister, but these remarks were perceived in Berlin as a reprimand aimed at Wadephul.
Government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius, trying to make the conflict seem even less significant, said, “Of course, Chancellor, the Foreign Minister has your full support.”
However, this statement did not quell the debates, especially within the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) faction.
The CDU (Christian Democratic Union) feels anxious about the elections in Saxony-Anhalt and Baden-Württemberg next year. Particularly, the CDU premiers of these two states are pressuring for the quick deportation of Syrians. The CDU is under the pressure of the far-right AfD, which garners points with anti-immigrant rhetoric and is even far ahead in Saxony-Anhalt.
Merz: I invited Ahmed Shara for this
So, how realistic is Germany’s plan to rapidly send back Syrians?
Merz stated that he invited Syria’s interim President Ahmed Shara to Germany to discuss the issue of accelerating the return of Syrians.
Merz believes that most Syrians in Germany will voluntarily contribute to the rebuilding of their country and says, “Of course, we can also deport those who refuse to return.”
However, these statements have drawn sharp reactions from both the opposition and human rights organizations. Experts believe it is still too early to describe the situation in Syria as “stable.”
According to the analysis by Berlin-based Mediendienst Integration, the deportation processes are closely linked to national residence and procedural law, constitutional provisions, EU directives, and international obligations. Therefore, it is not an easily navigable process.
Insufficient deportation centers
The government’s priority in the first stage is to increase the capacity of deportation centers. Currently, around 800 facilities of this kind exist across Germany.
Hannah Franz, a jurist from the University of Hamburg, states that this capacity has been insufficient for a long time. In 2024, about 6,000 people were detained prior to deportation, more than 90% of whom were men. Franz emphasizes that “there is hardly any detention space suitable for women” and draws attention to gender inequality in shelter conditions.
Franca Röll from the Karlsruhe Directorate explains who is accepted into these centers:
“Usually, those who have committed crimes, but not only them. Also, individuals who exhibit aggressive behavior in the foreigners’ office, disturb the peace in the accommodation, or resist during a previous deportation are evaluated within this scope.”
Difficulties in identifying identities
Another major obstacle to deportation procedures is persons whose identities cannot be ascertained. Berlin Immigration Office head Engelhard Mazanke, with over 30 years of experience, states:
“In many regions, the borders of nation-states are ethnically heterogeneous. For example, Kurds may come from Turkey, Iran, or Syria. Sometimes, it is truly impossible to determine which country they are coming from.”
For people without passports or identity documents, testimonies, old documents, or military papers can serve as evidence. However, in all cases, the person must be accepted by a “home country” to be deported.
According to Mazanke’s data, most people leaving Berlin voluntarily return to their country. In 2019, about 6,000 people left Germany voluntarily, while only 1,000 were forcibly deported. Consequently, the ratio of voluntary departures to forced returns from Berlin was around six to one. Mazanke expects 15,000 voluntary returns and 1,700 deportations by the end of 2025, nearly doubling the current numbers.
