Germany expands deportations of Afghans, lowering legal barriers

The German federal government has issued a new regulation that removes previous restrictions on deporting Afghan nationals. Under the decree announced by Hessen interior minister Roman Poseck, deportations can now include Afghan citizens who are not convicted of crimes, provided they are male, adults, single and subject to a enforceable departure order. The measure also streamlines the “identification” step, in which German authorities work with representatives of the Taliban‑run government to verify identities and, if necessary, issue travel documents.

While the policy retains a focus on criminals and “dangerous” individuals, officials say it will be applied more broadly. The change has provoked sharp criticism from the Hessian Refugee Council, Amnesty International and other human‑rights groups, who warn that sending people back to Taliban‑controlled Afghanistan could expose them to arrest, torture or death. Amnesty highlighted the case of Faridoon Tofan, a 46‑year‑old Afghan resident in Germany, arguing that his planned deportation would set a dangerous precedent.