Overview
- The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees issued 1,906 first-instance denials in October, compared with 163 in the entire January–September period.
- After broadly pausing Syria decisions since December 2024, the agency resumed rulings at the end of September for young, working-age men traveling alone.
- During the pause, cases involving convicted offenders and so-called security threats continued to be decided, with full denials in justified individual cases.
- Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt are pursuing arrangements with Syrian authorities to enable returns, starting with offenders.
- Registrations show fewer Syrian arrivals and more departures this year, while UN officials warn that insecurity and disappearances in Syria complicate large-scale returns.