Germany aims for Syrian refugees return

On November 4, 2025, news headlines reported that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s invitation to Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa to visit the country and discuss deporting Syrian citizens with criminal records in Germany. The Chancellor affirmed that “we will, of course, continue to deport criminals to Syria. That is the plan. We will now implement this in a very concrete manner,” adding that he intends to discuss with Sharaa “how we can solve this together.” However, Merz’s move cannot be understood outside of the contextual developments that have taken place in Deutschland in recent years.

The Syrian refugees’ status in Germany

The eruption of the devastating civil war in Syria in 2011 has prompted millions of the country’s citizens to flee and seek refuge in alternative safer countries. While the majority of them have headed to neighbouring Middle Easter countries (such as Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt), many others have set their sights on the European continent, particularly Germany.

The refugees’ encouragement to travel to Berlin stems from the former Chancellor Angela Merkel’s welcoming migration policies, namely from the year 2015 onwards. This controversial approach has made the country the prime destination for Syrians seeking refuge in Europe.

What unfolded proved to be consequential. According to the German Federal Statistical Office (GFSO), around 973,000 Syrians were living in Germany at the end of 2023, including 712,000 of them being granted refugee status. Therefore, Syrian nationals comprised the largest group of naturalized citizens in 2023.

Following the fall of the Assad regime in Syria on December 8, 2024, Berlin overturned major asylum policies. The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) issued an immediate freeze on asylum applications from Syrian citizens. Merz defended such decisions, claiming that “the civil war in Syria is over. There are now no longer any grounds for asylum in Germany.”

The rise of the far right and anti-immigration rhetoric

The recent anti-immigration policies adopted by Merz’s government is driven by rising pressures, especially from the far-right Alternative for für Deutschland (AfD), also known as Alternative for Germany, which is now the largest opposition party in the German parliament.

Far-right parties have been steadily, yet surely, ascending to power in Europe, including Germany. AfD’s anti-immigration rhetoric has attracted notable support, aiming to translate its growing popular base in the next elections. Merz himself blamed his predecessor’s migration policies for enabling the rise of the far-right group. Over the summer, Merz claimed that the latter are “trying to correct” Merkel’s past policies.

From here, the German Chancellor seems keen to curb the far-right’s rise, consolidate his government’s power and support while also addressing the ever-pressing issue of Syrian refugees.