Germany's asylum applications drop 35% as deportations to Afghanistan resume under stricter policies

Germany's asylum figures for the first eleven months of the year show a sharp decline in applications. Nearly 12,000 people received protection status, but fewer families were reunited due to policy changes. The government has also resumed deportations to countries previously considered too dangerous for returns.

Asylum applications fell by 35 percent compared to the same period last year. Afghans submitted the most claims (4,843), followed by Syrians (3,865) and Somalis (931). Despite the drop, nearly 12,000 individuals were granted protection, with women making up the majority—around 2,550 compared to 1,990 men.

Afghans had the highest recognition rate at 75 percent, reflecting ongoing instability since the Taliban's 2021 takeover. Over 5 million Afghans have fled Pakistan and Iran since September 2023 due to forced repatriation. Germany had halted deportations to Afghanistan in August 2021 but now negotiates returns directly with the Taliban under Chancellor Friedrich Merz's administration.

Syrians, meanwhile, saw a 22 percent recognition rate, with 1,140 receiving subsidiary protection. For the first time in decades, Germany carried out deportations to Afghanistan, Syria, and Somalia. Family reunifications also plummeted, with only one recorded in November after the programme's suspension.

The latest figures highlight a shift in Germany's asylum policies, with stricter controls and renewed deportations. Fewer applications and limited family reunifications suggest tighter restrictions, while high recognition rates for Afghans underscore the ongoing crisis in the region. The government's negotiations with the Taliban mark a significant change in approach to returns.