In 2016, the number of deported refugees increased, as well as the number of migrants who voluntarily left Germany
As "Russkaya Germaniya" writes, according to official data from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), most of these people are from the Western Balkan states: Albania (about 15,000), Serbia and Kosovo (5,000 each). In addition, from January to November 2016, about 3,200 people returned to Afghanistan, almost ten times more than in 2015. An increase in voluntary returns to Iran and Iraq is also recorded.
Experts link this trend to two factors. First, BAMF officials are now processing asylum applications from migrants from countries recognized by Germany as safe at an accelerated pace. Therefore, for example, it immediately becomes clear to people from the Balkans that they have virtually no chance of obtaining asylum in Germany. And second, it is financially advantageous for "rejected" persons to voluntarily leave Germany. The fact is that in such a case, the German side not only covers all costs of return but also provides financial assistance to help foreigners settle in their homeland. The total amount of such financial support can reach up to one thousand euros.
Incidentally, many refugees last year were unable to submit an asylum application in Germany at all. The fact is that Federal Police officers responsible for guarding German borders simply did not let a significant number of migrants into the country. Thus, almost 20,000 refugees were denied entry to Germany, twice the number of the previous year, 2015.
It should be particularly noted that last year a legal precedent was created that should make it even more difficult for refugees to come to Germany. Last November, the Higher Administrative Court of the state of Schleswig-Holstein ruled that refugees from Syria can only count on so-called subsidiary protection in Germany. In essence, this is only a temporary status of stay in Germany, which does not provide for the possibility of family reunification. Thus, Syrian citizens, according to the court, can no longer bring relatives remaining in their homeland to Germany.
German authorities have also begun to act more harshly towards Afghan citizens who have been denied asylum. Thus, on December 14 last year, 34 Afghans were deported to their homeland on a special flight from Frankfurt am Main, despite strong protests from human rights activists. According to the Interior Ministry, this is the first mass extradition to Afghanistan. It is expected that this practice will continue in 2017, as a corresponding agreement was concluded between Kabul and Berlin last October. Currently, about 12,000 Afghan citizens have only a temporary reprieve from deportation.