Germany Deports 31 Afghans Including First Non-Criminal Since 2021

The Federal Government of Germany deported 31 Afghan nationals to Kabul via a charter flight from Leipzig/Halle Airport on Tuesday, July 28, 2026. This operation marked the first time since the Taliban returned to power in 2021 that Germany deported an Afghan national without a criminal record. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt explained that the individual was deported after exhausting all legal asylum claims and attempting to live illegally in another European country. The remaining 30 deportees had criminal convictions, including charges of murder and rape.

This action is part of a broader shift toward a tighter immigration policy pursued by Chancellor Friedrich Merz to counter the political rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany party. Since resuming its deportation program in 2024, Germany has returned more than 200 Afghans. The process is facilitated by a direct agreement with the Taliban, which allows deportations without the use of intermediary states and involves the processing and interrogation of returnees by Taliban officials upon arrival.

The policy follows recent talks in Brussels between a Taliban delegation and the European Union regarding the return of failed asylum seekers. Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have criticized the program, reporting that at least one deportee has been killed since the resumption of flights in 2024.