Migration

Berlin, Germany – Germany has signaled a significant tightening of its asylum policy for Afghan nationals, moving away from previous commitments to offer protection and initiating a more stringent approach that includes accelerated deportations and the suspension of voluntary admission programs. This pivot comes amidst rising domestic anti-immigration sentiment and a broader European trend toward stricter migration controls, stirring debate among human rights organizations and international observers about the humanitarian implications for vulnerable Afghans. The shift represents a notable departure from the German government's post-2021 stance, when it expressed a strong obligation to protect Afghans, particularly those who had worked with Western agencies and human rights defenders, following the Taliban's return to power