Germany deports 81 Afghan nationals amid rising migration concerns
- Germany deported 81 Afghan men whose asylum requests were denied, marking its second deportation since the Taliban's return to power.
- The United Nations has issued warnings about the safety risks faced by returning Afghan nationals, citing escalated dangers due to the Taliban's human rights violations.
- There is a growing concern over the ethical implications of forced deportations to Afghanistan amid worsening conditions.
In July 2025, Germany conducted its second deportation of Afghan nationals since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan. On a flight that took off on a Friday morning, 81 Afghan men, whose asylum applications had been rejected, were sent back to their homeland. This action by the German government arrives as it has pledged a stricter stance on migration, especially under Chancellor Friedrich Merz's leadership. While Germany aims to resume further deportations, they maintain diplomatic contacts without formally recognizing the Taliban government. This recent deportation follows an earlier occasion over 10 months prior when the previous government initiated a similar process. The focus on tougher migration policies has intensified, coinciding with an increase in police presence at the German borders and restrictions on family reunifications for migrants. These policies come in response to declining asylum applications, with a notable drop from 329,120 in 2023 to 229,751 in 2024, indicating a shift towards restricting immigration. Contrasting this approach, a statement released by United Nations experts on July 18, 2025, raised serious concerns about the safety of returning Afghan nationals. They emphasized that over 1.9 million Afghans have either returned or have been forced back to Afghanistan since the beginning of the year, with rising numbers attributed to escalating tensions following regional conflicts. The UN highlighted that those returning often face severe risks to their safety, considering Afghanistan's deteriorating human rights situation under the Taliban. Reports of human rights infractions have emerged, including persecution of religious and ethnic minorities, gender-based discrimination, and state-sanctioned violence. Considering the growing urgency surrounding Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis, the UN experts called for an immediate halt to deportations, asserting that Afghanistan lacks the conditions deemed safe for returnees. They noted the grim reality facing Afghan returnees, particularly those with previous ties to the Afghan government or those identified as human rights defenders. The ongoing situation has raised ethical questions surrounding the responsibilities of governments in the face of evident dangers facing repatriated individuals and broader regional instability.