- Enhancement observed in the count of expulsions during the initial six months
Deportations on the riseIn the initial six months of 2024, Germany expelled approximately 9,500 individuals, as per statistics from the Federal Ministry of Interior, revealed in a response to a query by the Left party in the Bundestag, which was acquired by the German Press Agency. This figure is a substantial increase from the 7,861 deportations in the same period the previous year (2023), and a significant jump from the total 16,430 for the year 2023, which in turn was higher than the approximately 13,000 deportations in 2022.
The largest group of those expelled consisted of 915 individuals with Turkish passports. This was followed by people from Georgia (839), North Macedonia (774), Afghanistan (675), Albania (586), and Syria (534). The primary destinations for deportation were Georgia, North Macedonia, Austria, Albania, and Serbia. Germany is currently not deporting individuals to Syria and Afghanistan. Following the tragic knife attack on a police officer in Mannheim at the end of May, discussions regarding the possibility of deporting individuals to these countries have taken place within the federal government.
More than 3,000 'Dublin cases'The data shows that about 7,848 of the 9,465 people expelled in the first half of 2024 were removed via air travel. In one-third of all deportations (3,043 cases), the so-called 'Dublin procedure' was utilized, meaning that the individual was returned to the European country responsible for their asylum procedure, as they were the initial point of entry. In 164 of these cases, individuals were deported to Bulgaria, where the Solingen attacker was also supposed to be transferred.
As of June 30, 2024, a total of 226,882 individuals were subject to deportation in Germany. Of these, 182,727 had a 'tolerated' status, and 44,155 did not. Those with a 'tolerated' status are subject to deportation but cannot be deported due to various reasons such as the lack of identification documents or illness.
Over 14,000 failed deportationsIn the first half of 2024, 14,067 deportations were unsuccessful prior to handover to the Federal Police, for various reasons such as cancelled flights, individuals not being present, illness, or other organizational issues. 534 deportations were halted during or following handover to the Federal Police. Reasons for this can include refusal by airlines or pilots to transport the individual, 'resistance actions', medical reasons, or ongoing legal proceedings.
Clara Bünger, a Left party MP, stated that calls for more deportations are frequently heard, but the numbers have been steadily increasing for years. "Following the terrorist attack in Solingen, there are once again reflexive calls for more deportations. It is essential to note that deportations are not measures designed to prevent crime. They will not curb Islamism." She called for concrete strategies for crime prevention and youth social work.
In light of the rising deployments, Germany is facing debates about deporting individuals to Afghanistan and Syria, despite currently not doing so due to safety concerns. The unsuccessful deportation attempts in the first half of 2024 totaled 14,067, highlighting the complexity and challenges associated with deportation procedures.
