Overview
- An unappealable Düsseldorf court ruling found returns to Damascus and Latakia lawful for a father and son, citing no relevant individual danger in those regions.
- Earlier decisions in Cologne and at the Higher Administrative Court in Münster likewise narrowed protection regionally, signaling that deportations can be lawful in specific cases.
- BAMF confirmed that in Saxony no Syrian was recognized as a refugee or entitled to protection in 2025 after case processing resumed under updated assessments.
- Chancellor Friedrich Merz backs resuming returns, while Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul’s on‑site description of devastation—reported as worse than Germany in 1945—drew intra‑Union criticism and outside support, with legal experts noting persecution-based asylum remains possible.
- Official data show January–September 2025 Syrian arrivals to Germany fell 46.5% year on year as departures rose, even as reporting describes security conditions in Syria as improved yet fragile with episodic violence and kidnappings.