Commencement of initial expulsions under the Ankara deportation agreement
Germany is executing organized expulsions of Turkish nationals, as revealed by dpa sources. Initially, around 200 people are planned to be returned to their homeland, carried out incrementally on scheduled flights. The regional administrations are contributing to the process by procuring the necessary documents.
Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser acknowledged the continuous deportation of illegal migrants to Turkey during an interview. She expressed satisfaction with the expedited and more effective repatriations, claiming that Turkey is swiftly accepting its unauthorized citizens from Germany at a faster pace. Faeser characterized this as a significant improvement and a further stage in limiting unlawful migration.
Mass deportations to Turkey, unlike previous agreements with nations like Uzbekistan or Kenya, are now possible. The influx of asylum seekers from Turkey had been on the rise in the previous years. However, relocating individuals to this strategic partner nation is a politically sensitive matter due to its significant geopolitical role.
German diplomatic circles had previously claimed that Turkey was hindering the return of deportable Turks in Germany due to legal concerns. The German government reported that around 1,300 Turkish citizens were deported in 2023, following an AfD inquiry. By April 2024's end, around 14,500 Turkish nationals in Germany were anticipated to be subject to expulsion, revealed the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees.
Pro Asyl: Many asylum seekers are Kurds
It remains uncertain if the agreement includes incentives for Ankara. Turkey has long advocated for visa facilitation for its citizens, who often complain of arbitrary rejections. Moreover, the claim has been propagated that the lengthy wait times for visas are intentionally prolonged.
At the same time, higher numbers of visas were granted to individuals from China than any other nation between 2018-2023. In the first five months of this year, Germany issued approximately 16,000 national visas for Turkish applicants. This figure was barely half the amount issued in the same period of 2019.
Turkey ranks third on the list of primary nations of origin for asylum seekers. In the first eight months of the current year, 21,590 Turkish citizens applied for asylum in Germany, according to experts estimates. Experts attribute this surge in Turkish asylum seekers to the aftermath of the catastrophic earthquake in 2023. In Germany, Turks have a 13% recognition rate, according to the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung" (FAZ).
Recent elections have intensified pressure on the coalition government to increase the number of deportations. Chancellor Olaf Scholz pledged his intent to carry out mass deportations. Refugee rights organization Pro Asyl criticized this strategy, labeling a repatriation agreement between the Chancellor and the Turkish President as "irresponsible." The Turkish government faces criticism due to its human rights violations and harsh treatment of political opponents. According to Pro Asyl, most Turkish asylum seekers in Germany are Kurds.
The German government's increased efforts in deporting Turkish nationals, as mentioned by Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, involve returns to Turkey, a strategically important partner nation with sensitive geopolitical roles. Despite previous concerns about Turkey's cooperation in deportations, the number of deported Turkish citizens has significantly increased in recent years.
