Merz Says Syrians No Longer Qualify for Asylum, Signals Possible Deportations from Germany

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has declared that Syrians no longer have valid grounds for asylum in Germany following the end of Syria’s long civil war, suggesting that deportations could begin “in the near future.” He said the time had come for many of the more than one million Syrians living in Germany to return home and help rebuild their country.
Merz argued that the situation in Syria has changed significantly since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government 11 months ago. “There are now no longer any grounds for asylum in Germany, and therefore we can also begin with repatriations,” he said, adding that those unwilling to return could face deportation soon.
His comments appear to conflict with those of Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, who recently visited Damascus and expressed doubt that Syrians could safely return given ongoing instability and widespread devastation. Wadephul’s shift drew criticism within the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), with some members accusing him of undermining efforts to encourage voluntary returns.
The debate has intensified as Germany’s ruling coalition faces mounting pressure from the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), which has gained ground ahead of next year’s state elections. The issue has also reignited concerns about security following the arrest of a 22-year-old Syrian man in Berlin accused of plotting a terrorist attack.
Germany remains home to around 1.3 million Syrians, many of whom have integrated into society, learned the language, and joined the workforce — including more than 7,000 doctors serving in understaffed rural areas. Despite Merz’s calls for repatriation, only about 1,000 Syrians returned voluntarily to Syria in the first half of this year.