German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government, which took office in May 2025, has temporarily frozen a refugee program for Afghans. This program had been established by the previous government to help Afghans at risk from the Taliban due to their work with German forces or their professional roles as journalists, lawyers, or human rights activists.
Legal Challenges and Recent Arrivals
Since the program’s suspension, about 2,000 Afghans have been stranded in Pakistan, facing threats of deportation back to Afghanistan. A number of these individuals have filed successful legal challenges against the German government.
- A first group of 47 Afghans who won their cases arrived in Germany earlier in September.
- A second group of 28 Afghans—consisting of five men, 10 women, and 13 children—arrived at Hanover airport on Wednesday. This group also secured their entry through successful court rulings.
Despite these arrivals, the situation for many remains uncertain. Around 250 Afghans who were waiting to enter Germany were recently deported from Pakistan. A German foreign ministry spokesman stated that none of them has been able to return to Pakistan yet. The current government’s decision to freeze the program is part of its broader effort to tighten immigration policy.
