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Berlin – While the total number of deportations from Germany has seen a slight decline in 2026, the country has recorded a contrary trend regarding returns to Turkey. According to data provided by the German government in response to an inquiry by Clara Bünger, migration policy spokesperson for the Left Party faction, Turkey currently tops the list of destination countries for deportations.
Deportations to Turkey on the Rise
Between January and September 2026, German authorities carried out 14,324 deportations in total. Of these, 2,025 individuals were returned to Turkey, making it the most frequent destination. This is followed by Georgia with 883 deportations and Algeria with 629. In comparison, the total number of deportations across all countries fell by approximately 18.9 percent compared to the same period in 2025, when 17,651 deportations were recorded.
Shift Toward Voluntary Departures
The reduction in forced removals does not necessarily mean fewer people are leaving the country. Official data indicates an increase in state-supported voluntary departures. Under the federal-state program REAG/GARP, 14,140 people chose to leave Germany between January and September 2026, an increase from the 12,263 recorded during the same period in 2025.
Specific Challenges in Asylum Policy
The government data also highlights ongoing complexities in return operations:
- Syria: Deportations to Syria remain difficult, though possible in individual cases, with six deportations recorded since the beginning of the year.
- Afghanistan: More than 200 men have been deported to Afghanistan this year, the majority of whom had committed criminal offenses in Germany.
- EU Transfers: Requests for transfers back to other EU member states have decreased, partly due to a lower number of initial asylum applications in Germany during the first half of the year (39,646 compared to 72,818 in the previous year).
Clara Bünger criticized the current deportation practices, raising concerns regarding the impact on families and vulnerable individuals. Among those deported in the first three quarters of 2026 were more than 1,500 children and 380 adolescents.
As the debate over migration policy continues, various initiatives have organized protests against deportation practices, including a nationwide action day in October targeting detention facilities and deportation procedures.
Source: Radio Westfalica
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