German Court Blocks Blanket Cancellation of Afghan Resettlement Commitments

German Court Blocks Blanket Cancellation of Afghan Resettlement Commitments
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Germany’s Federal Constitutional Court has ruled that the government cannot collectively cancel previously approved resettlement commitments for Afghan nationals and must review each case individually.

The ruling came after an Afghan woman and her two sons challenged the government’s decision to terminate the humanitarian admission program and cancel around 640 remaining commitments issued to Afghans selected for relocation after the Taliban takeover in 2021.

The court found that the Interior Ministry’s move in December 2025 violated constitutional protections against arbitrary state action, stating that once authorities formally approve admission to Germany, any withdrawal must be based on an individual assessment rather than a blanket decision.

While the judges confirmed that the government has broad authority to shape migration policy, they stressed that such decisions must comply with Germany’s Basic Law. The court ordered a review of the Afghan family’s case and ruled that Germany must continue providing financial support until a lawful decision is reached.

The decision does not prevent Berlin from changing future migration policies or ending humanitarian programs for new applicants. However, it limits the government’s ability to revoke commitments already made to individuals without considering their personal circumstances. The ruling could also affect other Afghan nationals whose relocation cases remained unresolved after the program was halted.