Overview

• In 2024, 3,007 people were deported via NRW airports, with 22.5% minors, a share above the national average reported by the independent observers.
• NRW officials report about 2,800 returns by the end of July 2025, indicating the annual total is likely to surpass last year’s figure.
• Observers document welfare and health risks, including a child deported shortly after heart surgery and a woman removed during chemotherapy, as well as family separations.
• Municipal foreigner authorities are criticized for routine restraints and uneven training, while the Bundespolizei is noted for de-escalation and for aborting removals on health grounds.
• The report urges legally anchored, independent monitoring across the entire removal process and calls for independent flight doctors to safeguard medical decisions.