Why the German Government Is Split Over Returning Syrian Refugees Home

The debate within the German government is gaining momentum over the fate of Syrian refugees following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, amid sharp differences between those advocating for the resumption of deportations and those opposing.

The issue has come to the forefront between Chancellor Friedrich Merz, leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), who has called for Syrian refugees to be returned to their home country or deported when necessary, and Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, who voiced the opposite stance during his visit to Damascus on October 30, 2025.

The Refugees in Germany

During his visit to Syria and meeting with transitional president Ahmed al-Sharaa, Wadephul noted that the war had effectively ended but said Syria is currently unable to receive large numbers of returnees because of the extensive destruction of its infrastructure. Speaking in front of ruined buildings, he said, “Hardly anyone can live here with dignity.”

Wadephul also announced the German government’s intention to resume deportations of convicted criminals to Syria and invited al-Sharaa to visit Berlin to discuss cooperation on the issue. He added that submitting new asylum applications was no longer justified under current conditions and expressed his belief that only a small number of refugees would choose to return voluntarily.

His remarks coincided with statements from Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said that those who refuse to return can be deported, sparking heated debate across political and media circles.

There are about one million Syrians living in Germany, making them the country’s third-largest foreign community after Turks and Ukrainians. They make a significant contribution to the labor market, particularly in healthcare and service sectors. According to the German Medical Association, more than 7,000 Syrian doctors are currently working in the country.

At the same time, a portion of Syrians do not have secure residency status. Official data indicates that 10,700 people have been ordered to leave Germany, although around 9,800 of them have been granted temporary residence permits.

The Bundestag’s decision in June 2025 to suspend family reunification for those under “subsidiary protection” for two years has caused widespread frustration among Syrians, especially since around 350,000 people currently hold that status.

The Deportation Debate

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt of the Christian Social Union (CSU) wants to move forward with deportations of refugees to Syria, while Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul currently opposes the move, citing security assessments on the ground. Wadephul’s position is supported by the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Greens, and the Left Party, all of whom warn against the risks of deportation given the lingering instability and potential threats in several regions.

Syrian journalist Mohammad Imad, who lives in Germany, told Al-Estiklal that the debate over deporting or accelerating the deportation of Syrian refugees is mainly driven by right-wing factions within the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), led by the current chancellor. He added that the legal situation of Syrian refugees in Germany is complex, as authorities require a comprehensive assessment of security conditions across Syria before deciding to withdraw protection status or revoke asylum. Such decisions, according to the journalist, cannot be implemented immediately without a thorough review.

“Any return should be voluntary and carefully planned and should only take place once German authorities have confirmed at least a minimum level of stability and safety throughout Syria, something many German politicians and members of parliament have called for,” he said.

“Sudden changes to refugee policy risk overlooking important realities, such as the fact that thousands of Syrians are still enrolled in German schools and universities and that many have already integrated into the labor market and society.”

“Opponents of deportation base their stance on reports from international organizations such as the UN Refugee Agency, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch, which all maintain that most parts of Syria remain unsafe,” the journalist added.

“This is why the majority of European Union countries are currently refraining from deportations to Syria, due to ongoing security tensions and compulsory military service in certain regions, especially in the country’s northeast.”

Imad also pointed out that some German municipalities approach the issue from an economic and social perspective, considering refugees’ integration into the workforce. In Bavaria, for instance, people with foreign backgrounds make up 41 percent of employees in elderly care, a figure that makes it difficult to do without them.

“Recent months have seen rulings by German administrative courts allowing some parts of Syria to be classified as suitable for return, opening the door to limited deportations and intensifying the political debate over how to assess security conditions,” he said.

“Developments in migration policy are moving faster than the German government’s political discourse. Syria remains far from full stability, with ongoing separatist tendencies and a divided system of governance, factors that pose additional challenges for Berlin as it seeks to shape a refugee policy balancing humanitarian and security considerations.”

Voluntary Return

The foreign minister’s statements drew criticism within the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), prompting Chancellor Friedrich Merz to later reaffirm that the government’s goal remains to encourage refugees to return. In an interview with ARD on November 7, 2025, Jens Spahn, a member of the German Bundestag, proposed offering greater financial incentives for those willing to go back, noting that the current support stands at €1,000 per individual and €4,000 per family, without specifying how much the amount might increase.

Even so, Spahn emphasized that Syria is still suffering deeply and that any return process would be gradual rather than immediate, which could later evolve into what he called an “obligation to return.”

The migration debate has intensified since the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party rose to second place in the February 2025 elections. The party has been calling for the deportation of foreigners in general and Syrians in particular.

Statistics show a sharp 67.1 percent drop in asylum applications from Syrians between January and September 2025 compared with the previous year, though Syrians remain the largest group of asylum seekers in Germany.

The German government is united on the need to deport Syrians convicted of crimes, but the deportation of refugees who are integrated and gainfully employed is not currently being discussed.

Observers note that any shift in asylum policy would first require a coordinated European plan that promotes voluntary return and clarifies whether deportation is legally enforceable in a manner consistent with human rights standards.