Media reports in Germany have recently revealed disputes within the German government over the handling of Syrian refugees. Across Europe, calls are growing within governments and political parties to reassess asylum laws and return Syrians to their country – now considered “stable” by some officials after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
These debates come at a time when Syrians fear the political shift brought about by the rise of far-right parties, as some governments begin taking practical steps to halt new asylum claims and re-examine existing ones. This is happening despite continuing reports that Syria remains unstable, with persistent security troubles, economic collapse, and widespread damage to essential infrastructure.
Following the fall of the Assad regime in early December, several European countries – including Austria, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Switzerland and the UK – suspended new asylum claims from Syrians, arguing that the “security threat has ended”. Austria even announced that all pending Syrian asylum procedures would now stop.
Some of these countries later reopened the door for case reviews, as economic conditions deteriorated further in Syria and tensions rose in areas such as Suwayda. Yet the political push for revisiting asylum files – and even considering deportations – has returned strongly in recent weeks.
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A Sharp Rise in Rejected Asylum Applications
Last week, German broadcaster DW reported that authorities rejected 1,906 Syrian asylum applications in October alone – an unprecedented monthly figure that far exceeds the total number of rejected cases between January and September (163 applications), amid UN warnings that cuts to humanitarian assistance may trigger a new wave of migration towards Europe.
Manfred Weber, head of the European Parliament’s conservative bloc, said during a recent meeting that Syrians “who can return home must leave Germany and Europe”, adding that the legal situation is now “clear”. He argued that when a war ends, refugees must go back, although he called for exempting Syrians legally employed in Europe from immediate return.
A European Commission analysis, obtained by the German news agency DPA, showed that Germany could request an exemption from its obligations under the EU “solidarity mechanism” by the end of next year – allowing it to avoid taking in new migrants or making financial contributions. By 2026, Greece, Cyprus, Spain and Italy are expected to be the most affected by migration pressure.
Legal Experts: Deportation Talk is Political, Not Practical
Abdelwahhab al-Rifai, a legal adviser and director of a legal clinic in Sweden, told +963 that current calls for deporting Syrians are “political demands rather than legal ones”.
He stressed that no European state has carried out any actual deportations, as European and international law prohibit sending anyone back to a place where they may face danger. Each case is therefore examined individually, considering family ties, duration of stay, integration, health and personal risk.
Certain groups remain largely protected from deportation – such as naturalised citizens, families with at least one naturalised member, and holders of permanent EU residence. Those at risk include individuals whose residence has been revoked for security reasons, those convicted of serious crimes, or asylum applicants unable to prove they would face political or security-related danger upon return.
Read also: Austrian Prosecutors Charge Two Syrian Officers with Torture Crimes
Different Approaches Across Europe
Syrian human-rights activist Thaer Hijazi, based in France, says the situation is “highly sensitive and complex”, especially with the rise of the far right. Despite hardened rhetoric, the core principle across Europe remains non-refoulement – no forced return to unsafe countries.
Germany has frozen new asylum applications until next year, Sweden has tightened assessments since 2021 but has not deported anyone, The Netherlands toughened asylum rules following electoral gains by the right, without carrying out deportations, while Denmark remains the only state to revoke temporary protection for some Syrians from Damascus and its countryside, labelling these areas “safe”. These individuals now remain in deportation centres, facing severe living conditions and widespread criticism from rights groups.
Hijazi explains that those targeted for potential deportation are Syrians whose final asylum appeals were rejected, those who lost temporary protection due to “safe area” classifications, and individuals convicted of serious crimes. Yet no European country has deported them.
In mid-October, Germany’s interior minister Alexander Dobrindt said Syrians who travel back to their country while holding German protection would lose their asylum status. Berlin would then reassess their files and may deport those whose claims are rejected, prioritising unemployed young men who depend on state assistance.
A General Trend Towards Stricter Policies
Journalist and European affairs researcher Abdulrahman Ammar notes a broader trend across Europe towards stricter asylum and deportation procedures. Some Syrians still hold secondary protection, a temporary category that can be lifted once conditions in the home country improve.
Germany, he says, views the deportation issue partly through a political lens – the government wants to appear tough to prevent the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) from capitalising on this file in upcoming elections.
Across Europe, public pressure and right-wing rhetoric are pushing governments to tighten rules. Those without stable employment, permanent residence, or citizenship may face increased scrutiny. Others may attempt to move to more lenient EU states.
Migration Numbers Shift Sharply
Germany’s Federal Statistics Office revealed a significant drop in the number of new Syrian arrivals in 2025, along with a rise in departures.
Between January and September, only 40,000 Syrians arrived – a 46.5% decrease compared with 74,600 during the same period in 2024.
During the same months, 21,800 Syrians left Germany, a 35.3% increase over the previous year.
As a result, net Syrian migration fell dramatically to 18,100, compared to 58,500 last year.
Frankfurter Rundschau also reported a 67% drop in Syrian asylum applications in 2025, with EU-wide applications down 69% by July.
Read more: Fewer Syrian Asylum Seekers in Germany as More Return Home
Legal Avenues and Public Opinion
Hejazi stresses that deportation decisions are never absolute. In countries like France, asylum seekers can appeal decisions at three different levels, and alternative humanitarian protections exist. European states also face legal and moral responsibilities that prevent mass deportations – except in cases of voluntary return.
Rifai notes that Sweden, Germany and the Netherlands still consider Syria unsafe. Syrians who lose their status can appeal on humanitarian, family or medical grounds. According to rights organisations, conditions in Syria remain unstable, both economically and security-wise, meaning talk of mass deportation remains political rhetoric rather than a realistic policy.
A recent ZDF-Politbarometer poll found that only 15% of Germans support immediate return of all Syrians once the war ends, 44% support the return of those who do not work, while 37% prefer delaying return until living conditions in Syria improve.
Frankfurter Rundschau argued that these results reflect the broader split inside the German government and public opinion regarding the future of Syrian refugees – especially after the recent developments in Syria and the fall of the regime.
