Germany Moves to Deport 488 More Afghans, Including Many Without Criminal Records

German media have reported that the country’s government referred 488 Afghan nationals to the federal police for deportation between July 8 and September 18 this year, in a move that includes a significant number of people with no criminal record.

According to the reports, 267 of the 488 people have no criminal history. The figure suggests that about 55 percent of those caught up in the process have no conviction or criminal record.

German media said the government is planning to deport nearly 500 more Afghans. No further details were provided in the published reports about when the process will be carried out or the final fate of those affected.

Germany has in recent years been one of the main destinations in Europe for Afghan asylum seekers and migrants. The issue of deporting Afghan nationals from the country, particularly after political developments in Afghanistan, has long been one of the sensitive topics in Germany’s immigration policy.