Overview
- The Federal Constitutional Court ordered an immediate decision on visa applications for an Afghan ex-judge and his family, citing exceptional urgency but stopping short of mandating their admission.
- The court noted rising deportation risk from Pakistan and referenced administrative timelines set to expire on December 31, finding no sufficient reasons for delays in the visa process.
- The Interior Ministry said the decision confirms there is no legally binding admission from early intake schemes such as the 'Überbrückungsliste' and pledged to act very soon on the case.
- On the same day, the Bundestag approved a package enabling the government to designate safe origin countries by ordinance without Bundesrat consent for certain protection procedures and ended the entitlement to a state-funded mandatory counsel in deportation detention; 457 MPs voted in favor and 130 against, with Greens and Left opposing.
- Rights groups warn Pakistan plans to deport people with German admission promises from January 2026, NGOs prepare further legal action if visas are denied, and the government’s human-rights commissioner urged the swift transfer of roughly 1,500 to 1,900 remaining Afghan beneficiaries.