Criminal Foreigners: Lorek Calls for Pressure on Home Countries - Germany resumes Syria deportations after 14-year halt for criminals and threats
Germany has resumed deportations to Syria after a 14-year pause. The move follows the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in late 2025. Only convicted criminals and security threats are currently being sent back under the new policy. Deportations to Syria were first halted in 2011 due to the civil war. The ban remained in place until December 2025, when authorities deemed conditions safe enough for returns. Since then, Baden-Württemberg has deported one Syrian offender.
A specialised task force in the state has been handling nearly 900 cases of dangerous foreign nationals. Over eight years, it has deported 618 offenders and repeat high-risk individuals. The team has also expelled 585 people formally and verified the identities of 341 suspects. Currently, 33 Syrian offenders in Baden-Württemberg face deportation orders. Some remain in custody while their cases are processed. Siegfried Lorek, the state’s migration secretary, is pushing for stricter measures. He proposes using development aid as leverage to pressure home countries into accepting deportees.
The resumption of deportations marks a shift in Germany’s approach to foreign offenders. Baden-Württemberg’s task force continues to process cases, focusing on those deemed a risk. Officials now aim to increase cooperation with countries of origin through diplomatic and financial incentives.
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