Austria and Germany intensify migration and deportation measures

Migration and deportation policies are undergoing significant shifts in Austria and Germany, particularly concerning Syrian nationals following the fall of the Assad regime.

In Austria, Interior Minister Gerhard Karner reported that approximately 2,000 Syrians have left the country since late 2024. The government is utilizing return programs and has seen an 8% increase in total deportations from January to July 2026, reaching 8,856 individuals. Karner noted that for the first time in over 20 years, Austria has achieved negative net migration.

In Germany, the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) has significantly increased the revocation of protection statuses for Syrians. In the first half of 2026, over 1,900 Syrians lost their status, a sharp rise from previous years. However, deportation efforts face major obstacles; reports indicate that nearly 9,000 attempted deportations have failed this year, often because individuals go into hiding or lack travel documents. In Bavaria, authorities are prioritizing the termination of stays for those no longer eligible for protection and have established a task force to handle serious offenders.