Germany Widens Afghan Deportations

Germany has quietly widened the group of people who can be sent back to Afghanistan. A decree issued by the federal police (Bundespolizei) on 10 July 2026 lifted an earlier limit that had restricted Afghan deportations to convicted criminals and people classed as security threats. As a result, Afghans without any criminal record can now be placed in deportation custody and returned to a country run by the Taliban. The change was made through internal instruction rather than a new law, and it has drawn sharp criticism from human rights groups.

Until now, official policy followed the 2025 coalition agreement between the CDU/CSU and SPD, which promised deportations to Afghanistan and Syria “beginning with criminals and dangerous individuals”. The new decree removes that restriction at the operational level, allowing the authorities to present a broader group of Afghan nationals to Taliban representatives for identification and travel documents.

What the decree changes about Afghan deportations

Under the previous rules, the Bundespolizei could only put forward Afghans who were labelled Straftäter (people convicted of crimes) or Gefährder (individuals considered a security threat). The 10 July decree drops that filter. According to reporting by Tagesspiegel and the Hessian broadcaster hessenschau, people can now be considered for removal if they are male, adult, single and subject to an enforceable deportation order, whether or not they have ever been convicted of anything.

Certain groups remain excluded for the time being. Women, children, seriously ill people and individuals linked to the terrorist group Islamic State (IS) are not covered by the current procedure. Officials stress that this does not amount to protection for everyone else, and that existing law already permitted removals beyond criminals – the decree simply clears the way to act on it.

Hesse minister confirms regular removals

The shift became public when Hesse’s interior minister Roman Poseck (CDU) presented it at a half-year press conference on 23 July 2026. He said the federal government in Berlin had created the conditions so that “zukünftig regelhafte Abschiebungen von Ausreisepflichtigen nach Afghanistan möglich sind” – that regular deportations of people obliged to leave are now possible in future.

Poseck added that Hesse’s own focus would remain on removing criminals and security threats, even though the legal door is now open wider. Removals to Afghanistan require cooperation with Taliban officials to confirm identities and issue papers, a process the German government has expanded over the past year. Reports note that dozens of men have already been flown back to Afghanistan during 2026.

Rights groups warn of torture risk

Amnesty International has strongly criticised the wider Afghan deportations. The organisation said on 23 July that at least six Afghans with no criminal record are already in deportation custody. Its expert Nina Alizadeh Marandi warned in one case that a return “kann für ihn Verhaftung, Folter oder sogar Lebensgefahr bedeuten” – that deportation could mean arrest, torture or even a threat to life.

Human rights advocates argue that no one can be returned safely to a state governed by the Taliban, where reports of arbitrary detention and ill-treatment are widespread. The Hessian Refugee Council called the removal of the earlier restriction “unverantwortlich”, or irresponsible. Critics also point to the human cost of detaining people who have committed no offence, some of whom have worked and built lives in Germany, before sending them to a country many fled years ago.

Debate inside the governing coalition

The decision has exposed a divide within the coalition itself. Hakan Demir, the SPD’s migration spokesman, opposed the broader approach and called for protection for Afghans who are integrated. “Wer in Deutschland einen Arbeitsplatz hat und die deutsche Sprache spricht, sollte bleiben können,” he said – anyone who has a job in Germany and speaks the language should be able to stay. He said his party would raise the issue with its coalition partner.

Supporters of a tougher line argue that people whose asylum claims have failed and who have an enforceable order to leave should return, and that a functioning migration system depends on removals being carried out. The dispute reflects a wider tension in German politics between enforcement and humanitarian obligations, and it is likely to continue as more cases reach the courts.

What this means for Afghans in Germany

For Afghan nationals living in Germany, the practical question is legal status. People with recognised protection, a valid residence permit or an ongoing asylum procedure are not the target of these removals. Those most exposed are single adult men whose claims have been finally rejected and who hold an enforceable deportation order, even without a criminal record. Anyone unsure of their situation should seek qualified advice early rather than wait.

If you or someone you know may be affected, it is important to understand how deportation custody and appeals work, and to keep documents about employment, health and family ties up to date, since these can be relevant to a case. Our guides to the new EU asylum rules and to immigration and visa assistance explain where to turn for support. Given how quickly the policy has shifted, staying informed and getting professional legal help are the most reliable protections available.