Germany’s Afghan Resettlement Policy Faces Criticism Amid Revoked Promises and Data Sharing Concerns

Germany's Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt recently affirmed the country's responsibility toward Afghan local staff but revealed a troubling shift in the government’s approach to Afghan resettlement. Since mid-November 2025, the German government has revoked resettlement promises for 122 Afghans who were previously eligible under the local staff program, affecting nearly half of the remaining applicants still awaiting entry. This includes 26 individuals affiliated with SPD-led ministries and their families, resulting in serious family separations.

The program included vulnerable applicants such as a former police trainer who served for ten years and women with children separated from their spouses already in Germany. Meanwhile, the government has initiated charter flights for Afghan evacuees, allowing 192 Afghans to enter, marking a shift from earlier policies that emphasized deportations.

Significantly, Dobrindt stated that his ministry is sharing personal data of Afghan applicants with the Afghan embassy in Berlin amid ongoing negotiations with the Taliban for regular deportations. This development has sparked fears of potential involvement by the Taliban's notorious intelligence service (GDI), raising privacy and safety concerns. Moreover, Dobrindt hinted at the possibility of deportations extending to Afghan women despite a recent European Court ruling granting asylum rights to them.

In parallel, German authorities face pressure following a ruling from the Bundesverfassungsgericht, which demands timely decisions on visa applications for Afghan refugees. This legal imperative coincides with growing scrutiny over Germany's handling of Afghan cases and complicates efforts to streamline asylum procedures.

These developments underscore a complex and controversial phase in Germany's Afghan resettlement policy in 2025, raising questions about government commitments, refugee protection, and data privacy amid evolving political and humanitarian challenges.