Germany deports fewer people in first half of 2026

Germany deported 9,663 people in the first six months of 2026, down from more than 11,800 in the same period a year earlier, according to data from the Interior Ministry.

The figures were disclosed in the ministry's response to a parliamentary question from Alternative for Germany (AfD) lawmaker Leif-Erik Holm and seen by dpa.

Despite the year-on-year decline, deportations remained above the level recorded in the first half of 2024, when nearly 9,500 people were removed from the country.

Deportations have risen steadily in recent years. According to the Interior Ministry, around 22,800 people were deported in 2025, compared with more than 20,000 in 2024, about 16,400 in 2023 and nearly 13,000 in 2022.

"Migration policy is a disaster," Holm from the far right AfD said, adding that deportation numbers needed to rise and claiming that the security situation was deteriorating.

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said earlier this week that the government's migration policy was being pursued "with control, direction and a clear stance."

Germany recently resumed deportation flights to Afghanistan, a move that has drawn criticism from opponents over the cooperation required with the country's Taliban rulers.

The ministry's response also showed that, in addition to those deported, 9,276 people left Germany voluntarily in the first half of the year with financial assistance under a federal-state return programme. Additional voluntary departures were supported through separate state-level programmes.