A four-point plan for dealing with Syrian refugees, which also includes the cancellation of protection grants, has been presented by German Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, German media reported on Sunday.
The German official told the media:
“In accordance with our legislation, the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees will review and cancel protection if people no longer need it in Germany because the situation in Syria has stabilised.”
Faeser reportedly said this would apply to those who do not have residency rights for other reasons, such as work or education, and who do not voluntarily return to Syria. The politician emphasised that deportees will be given all possible support and the plan is to expel criminals and Islamists first. However, the head of the law enforcement agency also favoured selectivity in the expulsion process. She also added:
“Anyone who is well integrated, works, has learnt German and has found a new home here should be allowed to stay in Germany.”
At the end of November, Syrian anti-government forces, where Hayat Tahrir al-Sham militants were the main fighting force, launched an offensive from Idlib province in northern Syria. On the night of December 8, they captured Damascus and announced the overthrow of the regime of Bashar al-Assad.
After that, five European countries, including Germany, announced the suspension of issuing asylum documents to Syrian citizens.
According to the German Interior Ministry, as of the end of October 2024, there were about 974,000 people with Syrian citizenship in the country, more than two-thirds of who were in the status of protection seekers.
