Germany Executes First Convicted Criminal Deportation to Syria Since 2011

Germany has deported a convicted criminal to Syria for the first time since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, marking a significant shift in its immigration and security policy. The individual, a 37-year-old man who had been living in Gelsenkirchen, was handed over to authorities in Damascus after completing a prison sentence in North Rhine-Westphalia for serious offenses including robbery, bodily harm, and extortion. His residence permit had been extended multiple times since he arrived in Germany in 2015.

This historic deportation reflects the German government's evolving stance on handling convicted criminals and refugees from conflict zones. The coalition government, consisting of the CDU/CSU and SPD, has included in its coalition agreement the intention to deport criminals and undocumented individuals back to Syria. Federal Minister of the Interior Alexander Dobrindt emphasized that the civil war in Syria is over, and thus, asylum grounds no longer apply for Syrians.

The Interior Ministry has been actively engaged in talks with Syrian and Afghan representatives, resulting in agreements that will facilitate regular deportations of criminals and threats in the future. Alongside the Syrian deportation, another individual was deported to Afghanistan, marking the second such deportation within a week.

From January to September 2025, German authorities deported over 17,600 individuals, representing a 20% increase compared to the previous year. The majority of these deportations were to countries such as Turkey, Georgia, and Spain. The ministry is currently reassessing protection statuses for Syrian nationals, with particular focus on those involved in criminal activity or who have returned to Syria.

This move highlights Germany's balancing act between humanitarian considerations and the imperative to uphold the rule of law amid ongoing security challenges related to immigration.