Deportations see considerable rise in numbers - Significant surge observed in the number of deportations
Rising Deportations from Germany: 20,100 Individuals in 2024
In the first three months of 2024 alone, Germany deported 6,151 individuals, including 1,118 minors. According to a government response to a Left Party request, this figure is projected to surpass 24,000 for the entire year, marking a significant increase compared to previous years[1][2][3].
Last year, some 20,000 individuals were deported from Germany, a figure which was itself higher than the 16,500 deportations reported in 2023. However, the number could still rise further, as the deportations in the initial months of 2024 were the responsibility of the previous federal government. The CDU and CSU have announced plans to carry out more returns in the future[1].
Major destinations for these deportations were Georgia, France, Spain, Serbia, and Turkey. Notably, the number of deportations to Turkey has doubled compared to 2022. Additional returns were made to Iraq (157 people) and Iran (5 people). Around 1,700 deportations were so-called "Dublin transfers" to other EU countries responsible for the asylum procedure under the Dublin Regulation[1].
The Dublin Regulation stipulates that refugees must file their asylum application in the EU country where they first set foot on European soil[4]. The European border and coast guard agency, Frontex, covered the costs for many of these deportation flights[1].
In the first quarter of 2024, 37% of the deportations took place with charter flights. Expensive mass deportations to Pakistan, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Ghana, and Cameroon amounted to approximately 860,000 euros combined[1].
The Left Party's Clara Bunger denounced the authorities' approach, citing instances of "brutal and empathy-free" deportations. According to Bunger, these actions have resulted in families being torn apart and sick individuals being forcibly returned from hospitals[5].
The rise in deportations seems to correspond with a decrease in asylum applications in Germany in 2024, which fell significantly compared to previous years, with around 250,945 applications submitted in 2024[4].
[1] Der Spiegel[2] Deutschlandfunk Kultur[3] Tagesschau[4] Federal Statistical Office of Germany[5] RND (Rheinische Post, WAZ, and others)
- In response to the escalating number of deportations, the Left Party has proposed a community policy that emphasizes the need for compassionate and humane treatment of individuals during the process.
- A rising concern amidst the increasing deportations is the impact on those migrating due to war-and-conflicts, as the policy-and-legislation surrounding deportations complexifies the political landscape of general-news.
- In pursuit of vocational training opportunities as a solution for those affected by migration, it is essential for the government to invest in vocational training programs, providing individuals with skills necessary for employment upon their return to their homeland.
