BERLIN — German Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has announced an escalation of deportations to Afghanistan, initiating a regularized schedule of charter flights aimed at removing convicted criminals and high-risk individuals from the country.
A chartered flight departed carrying 13 Afghan nationals bound for Kabul, marking the latest phase in Berlin’s stepped-up enforcement policy. According to the Federal Ministry of the Interior, the vast majority of those on board—12 out of the 13 individuals—were convicted criminals serving time for offenses including sexual violence, assault, and drug trafficking.
“Criminals must leave our country,” Minister Dobrindt stated, emphasizing that the government is transforming repatriations into a reliable and consistent pillar of Germany’s rule of law.
The latest operation reflects an accelerating tempo of removals under the current federal administration. Official figures indicate that approximately 11,400 Afghan nationals are currently obligated to leave Germany. Of these, roughly 9,600 hold temporary suspension statuses (Duldung), while about 1,800 face direct deportation orders without protective status, a pool that heavily concentrates on convicted offenders and security threats (Gefährder).
Recent months have seen a systematic series of charter flights to Kabul, underscoring a hardening political consensus in Berlin regarding the expulsion of foreign nationals convicted of serious crimes.