German Interior Minister Extends Border Controls, Plans Additional Deportations to Afghanistan, Syria

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has announced that Germany will extend its border controls beyond September, continuing both controls and pushbacks of asylum seekers at national borders. These measures, intensified since May 8 under the conservative-led coalition government, have sparked criticism from neighboring countries, as Germany is part of the Schengen Area, which generally provides for open borders. Dobrindt emphasized the necessity of deporting individuals who cannot legally remain in Germany, with a focus on criminals. The government recently deported 81 Afghan criminals on a charter flight, marking the second such flight since the Taliban's return to power in 2021, and plans to organize further deportations to Afghanistan and Syria. The coalition agreement between CDU/CSU and SPD includes commitments to deportations to these countries, despite ongoing security concerns in Syria after years of civil war. Additionally, arrests related to far-right groups seeking to undermine Germany's constitutional order have been made, highlighting internal security concerns amid the tightened border policies.