The Kabul Tribune (KT) — German authorities are holding several Afghan nationals without criminal convictions in immigration detention pending deportation, according to a report by German daily taz, raising questions about whether some cases align with Berlin's stated deportation policy.
The newspaper said at least five Afghan nationals with no
known criminal records are being held in deportation detention facilities
across Germany, citing its investigation into recent cases involving Afghan
migrants.
According to the report, the detainees face deportation
despite having no criminal convictions. Germany's Federal Ministry of the
Interior has not publicly commented on the findings.
taz reported that several of those detained are being held
in Bavaria, while another is being held in Hesse. A sixth Afghan man awaiting
deportation in Lower Saxony was temporarily released after refugee support
organizations intervened.
The newspaper said two of the six men had previously
returned to Germany under the European Union's Dublin Regulation, which
determines the member state responsible for processing an asylum application.
The other four were reportedly detained by Germany's Federal Police after
re-entering the country.
German officials have consistently said deportations are
primarily aimed at individuals convicted of serious crimes or those considered
threats to public security. Authorities have stated that returns to Afghanistan
are intended mainly for people convicted of violent or sexual offenses, major
drug-related crimes, or those classified as security risks.
Germany resumed deportations of Afghan nationals in 2024
after suspending removals following the Taliban's return to power in August
2021. The policy shift came after months of political debate over migration and
public security, with the government saying deportations would remain limited
to high-risk offenders.
The first deportation flight under the renewed policy
departed in August 2024, returning 28 Afghan nationals with logistical support
from Qatar. Media reports indicate that about 215 Afghan nationals have since
been deported under the resumed policy.
