Deportation debates intensify in Germany and Central Asia
Tensions over deportations are rising in both Germany and Central Asia, as political leaders and international organizations clash over migration policies.
In Germany, Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader Friedrich Merz has criticized Chancellor Olaf Scholz for delaying deportations, pointing out that no flights to Afghanistan have taken place in the past five months.
Merz, a leading contender in the upcoming elections, claims that 40,000 asylum seekers are eligible for deportation and has made stricter immigration policies a key campaign issue. He is calling for tighter border controls and expanded police powers to curb illegal migration.
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has proposed a “European common asylum system,” while Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has dismissed Merz’s border control plans as impractical and contrary to EU principles.
Concerns over migration have grown following violent incidents involving refugees, fueling support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). With elections set for February 23, Merz’s hardline stance may appeal to conservative voters, but CDU’s potential cooperation with the AfD could alienate moderates.
Meanwhile, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has urged Tajikistan to stop deporting Afghan refugees after at least 80 were forcibly returned in December 2024. UNHCR condemned the move, noting that many of those deported had valid documents, making the action a violation of international protection standards.
Tajikistan, which hosts around 9,000 Afghan refugees, is not alone in ramping up deportations. Iran expelled 586,000 undocumented Afghans in 2024, while Pakistan and Turkey have also sent thousands back. The Taliban’s Ministry of Refugees reported nearly 12,000 Afghan migrants returned from these countries in the past three weeks.
The increasing expulsions are exacerbating Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis, with UNHCR calling for international cooperation to protect vulnerable populations while balancing host nations’ security concerns.
