Germany and Austria implement new deportation and prison reforms

Germany and Austria are implementing new measures to address deportation processes and prison overcrowding.

In North Rhine-Westphalia, Migration Minister Verena Schäffer has announced a systematic review of 56,000 individuals with deportation orders. The initiative aims to prioritize the return of criminal offenders and security threats, following controversies regarding the ‘Coesfeld List’ and the handling of individuals eligible for residency. Data indicates at least 18 individuals from Iraq and the Western Balkans in the region are suspected of involvement in organized crime.

In Austria, the government is moving forward with a reform of the Prison Act to alleviate severe overcrowding in justice facilities, which are currently operating at 108 percent capacity. The new rules, expected to take effect on November 1, 2026, will facilitate the deportation of foreign offenders to their home countries after they have served half of their sentence, provided they have not committed serious violent, sexual, or terrorist crimes. This measure aims to reduce the burden on staff and facilities, which have recently been marred by fatal incidents and staffing shortages.