Germany to Deport Syrian Criminals and Islamists as Soon as Possible, Says Interior Minister

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has said that Syrian citizens who have committed crimes in Germany or have been recognised as Islamists will be deported to their homeland, Syria, ‘as soon as the situation allows’, DW reports.

She also promised that the German government would expand the programme to support the voluntary repatriation of Syrian citizens to their homeland. At the same time, those who have learnt German and found a job or are studying in Germany will not be expelled.

‘Anyone who integrates well, works, has learnt German and found a new home here should be allowed to stay in Germany,’ the minister said.

At the same time, she stressed that criminals and Islamists should be deported as soon as possible: ‘We have significantly expanded the legal possibilities for this and will use them as soon as the situation in Syria allows.’

According to her, the Interior Ministry is working closely with the Foreign Ministry and foreign partners ‘to clarify the situation in Syria’ after the overthrow of the Assad regime. 

‘We are primarily focusing on security issues,’ Feather said, noting that for the first time after a decade of terror and violence, there is hope for peace in Syria. 

‘If this hope for peace becomes a reality, many refugees will be able to return,’ the Interior Minister concluded.

According to Feather, the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) is preparing to review asylum decisions based on the results of the assessment of the situation in Syria.

‘According to our law, the BAMF will re-examine and revoke asylum decisions if people no longer need asylum in Germany, as the situation in Syria has stabilised,’ the Interior Minister said in an interview with the Funke media group.

According to official figures, there are currently 974,136 Syrian citizens living in Germany. Most of them arrived in the country after 2015.