Journey from burial site to departing aircraft
In the heart of Europe, Germany's conservative-led coalition has been enforcing stricter border and deportation policies since mid-2024. This shift has led to a significant increase in the number of school-age children and young people being deported from the country.
Over 1,300 minors have been deported in the first half of 2025 alone, representing around 11% of all deported individuals. This trend has remained stable despite an overall rise in deportations.
The government's tougher policies aim to reduce asylum applications, combat smuggling, and maintain control over migration inflows. However, the practice of deporting school-age children, even to countries considered unsafe like Afghanistan and Syria, has raised human rights and security concerns.
Human rights advocates warn that these deportations expose minors to dangerous conditions, potentially destabilizing societal welfare and raising ethical questions about Germany's obligations under international law. From a security perspective, the government argues that stricter controls and deportations maintain order and enforce the rule of law.
However, the policy also fuels social tensions, criticism over violations of Schengen Agreement principles, and pressures on Germany’s integration and welfare systems. The portrayal of certain countries as safe for deportation is considered cynical, as these countries are still considered unsafe for travel by the German Foreign Office.
The federal government's decision to deport schooled, integrated children could potentially lead to a loss of potential contributors to the German workforce. It could also worsen the situation in countries of origin, as these young people may return with skills and knowledge that could benefit their communities.
Moreover, the practice could potentially cause trauma to these young individuals and harm the integration efforts made within Germany. The government often portrays those being deported as criminal men, but this is not accurate for many of the school-age children being deported.
Deportation flights have taken place to Iraq and Afghanistan, sparking controversy and raising questions about the long-term impact of these policies on both Germany and the countries of origin. As the debate surrounding immigration policies continues, it is crucial to consider the potential consequences for these young, vulnerable individuals.
- The controversy over Germany's policy-and-legislation on deportations has extended to politics and general-news, as human rights advocates question the safety and ethics of deporting school-age children to unsafe countries like Afghanistan and Syria.
- The government's stricter border policies, including the deportation of school-age children, have sparked concerns not only about human rights violations but also potential effects on Germany's future integration, welfare systems, and general-news discourse.
