Overview
- Wadephul, after touring devastated areas near Damascus, said large‑scale returns are currently unrealistic and only very serious offenders should be considered for removal.
- Senior CDU/CSU figures including Günter Krings and Sven Schulze rejected destruction as a reason to delay returns and pressed for a concrete strategy, while Kanzleramtsminister Thorsten Frei urged regional and group‑specific distinctions.
- CDU general secretary Carsten Linnemann and government spokespeople called the dispute a “Scheinkonflikt” and reiterated that deportations will start with criminals in line with the coalition agreement.
- The Interior Ministry confirmed it will not permit so‑called exploratory trips to Syria that could jeopardize protection status and said it is working on arrangements with Syrian authorities to enable returns.
- The chancery said Ahmed al‑Scharaa was invited to Berlin as talks continue, and officials highlighted ongoing operational steps such as selective BAMF processing alongside Germany’s large Syrian population and limited returnees from Germany so far.