Approximately 2500 deportations this year: listed are the focused nations
In North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), the state's deportation policy has been met with criticism, with some labelling it as a "very criticizable course." However, it's important to note that the policy is not significantly different from the national average.
The policy applies to all foreign persons who do not possess a required residence title or no longer possess one. This includes individuals who may have arrived in the region seeking refuge. The Refugee Council of NRW, an organisation that advocates for the rights of refugees, has criticised the state government's aim to make deportations more efficient, stating that it results in increased pressure on deportations.
One significant obstacle in the deportation process is that the countries of origin often block the return of their nationals. This has led to a backlog in the system, causing delays and hardships. To address this issue, the state's Refugee Minister, Birgit Naujoks, has called for clear regulations to avoid such complications.
Naujoks also expressed concerns about the increasing focus on isolation and criminalization in deportations. She sees this as problematic and threatening, particularly for vulnerable individuals and families. The Refugee Council is currently examining how deportations can be transferred to the state level to relieve municipalities and improve processes.
The Refugee Council's specific concerns and criticisms about NRW's deportation policy are not directly detailed in the provided search results. However, broader criticisms about deportation policies in Europe and related German contexts include increasing restrictions, expanded border controls, and reduced resettlement programs. These measures raise fears about humanitarian impacts on refugees and asylum seekers.
In 2024, a total of 4400 returns were registered in NRW, which corresponds to an increase of around 21 percent compared to 2023. As of June 30, 2025, a total of 53,646 persons were subject to deportation in North Rhine-Westphalia. In the first half of 2025, 2494 people were deported from NRW. The five most frequent destination states for deportations from NRW in 2025 are Turkey, Serbia, Albania, Georgia, and North Macedonia.
It's worth noting that many of these individuals (44,590 persons) formally have a toleration. Toleration is granted when the return of a foreign person is suspended, often due to reasons such as family causes, lack of travel documents, or completed qualified training or socially insured employment.
The North Rhine-Westphalia Refugee Ministry emphasises that the state stands by its humanitarian, fair, and equal opportunity refugee policy. However, they also acknowledge that repatriations and voluntary returns are part of migration policy.
Despite the criticisms, the state continues to work towards finding solutions to the complex issues surrounding deportations, with the aim of ensuring a fair and humane approach to migration management.
- The Refugee Council, an organization advocating for refugees' rights in North Rhine-Westphalia, has criticized the state government's aim to make deportations more efficient, with their concerns echoing broader criticisms about deportation policies in Europe and related German contexts, which include increased restrictions, expanded border controls, and reduced resettlement programs.
- The policy-and-legislation concerning deportations in North Rhine-Westphalia continues to be a topic of politics and general-news, with the state's Refugee Minister, Birgit Naujoks, expressing concerns about the increasing focus on isolation and criminalization in deportations, and the Refugee Council exploring ways to transfer deportations to the state level to relieve municipalities and improve processes.
