Germany Appoints “Migration Envoy” to Accelerate Deportations

Germany has created a new government post titled “Migration Envoy” as part of a broader effort to tighten its migration policy. The position is intended to speed up deportations and explore transferring asylum procedures to non-EU countries, prompting political debate over its impact on legal migration.

The Interior Ministry said diplomat Ludwig Jung will assume the role on Monday, 19 January 2026. Jung, previously with the Foreign Ministry, will focus on negotiating practical arrangements for returning people without residency rights to countries outside the European Union, according to officials.

The new role replaces the former “Special Commissioner for Migration Agreements,” a post introduced in early 2023 and abolished by the current coalition government led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Under the previous framework, Germany concluded migration agreements with Morocco, Georgia, Uzbekistan, Kenya, and Colombia, while talks continued with several other countries.

Critics, including Social Democratic Party lawmaker Hakan Demir, warned that an emphasis on deportations risks overlooking labor shortages. He noted Germany’s rapidly aging population and stressed the importance of work migration, family reunification, and humanitarian pathways. The appointment has reignited debate over balancing migration control with economic and social needs.