As Germany resumes deporting failed asylum seekers after a slowdown during the pandemic, fear is growing among hundreds of Bangladeshi migrants whose asylum applications have been rejected.
France deported four Afghans back to Bulgaria on Monday under the Dublin Regulation which allows asylum seekers to be sent back to the first country of arrival in Europe. Lawyers fear that these Afghans will now be deported back to their country of origin, as Bulgaria has not suspended its deportations to Afghanistan despite the Taliban takeover.
Greece's government still faces stern criticism from human rights groups that took to social media last week to lament the ongoing situation for asylum seekers one year after the Moria fire.
Deportations from Germany have risen again after a downturn during the pandemic. The Left Party has demanded an end to 'cynical policies'.
A Taliban spokesman has told an Austrian newspaper that the Taliban would accept any Afghan migrants whose asylum requests in Europe were rejected. Those with a criminal record would then face court in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Austria's interior minister is still in favor of deporting migrants with a criminal record.
Greece is pressing ahead with new legislation tabled in parliament by the migration ministry that will seek to accelerate deportations of migrants. In view of recent developments in Afghanistan, Europe is expecting a new wave of migration.
Farhad is desperate to get out of Afghanistan and come to Germany. Abdul Ghafoor has managed just that — although he really wanted to stay in Kabul.
France last month suspended expelling Afghan migrants whose asylum applications had been rejected, due to the deteriorating security situation in the country as the Taliban presses an offensive, the government said Thursday.
The director general of the UN migration agency has expressed "extreme concern" over the "deteriorating situation in Afghanistan." The Taliban advances are causing huge amounts of displacement both internally and externally, contributing to a rise in the number of people who are fleeing.
Austria said it will allow an Afghan man, who was denied asylum, to stay in the country until the end of the month. NGOs have asked European countries to stop deporting people to Afghanistan.
Afghan asylum seekers in Germany are increasingly succeeding in their appeals to German courts to be allowed to remain in the country, according to government data.
Interior Minister Seehofer sees no reason why criminals cannot continue to be deported, despite the insecurity in war-torn Afghanistan. Human rights organizations and the Green party have spoken out against the policy.