With Germany’s early parliamentary elections set for February 23, 2025, discussions around migration policies are intensifying. However, social media is flooded with misleading claims about deportations and asylum seekers. factcheckworld.com investigates two widely circulated statements.
Claim 1: “304,000 rejected asylum seekers are legally required to leave Germany but still receive support.”
🔴 Fact Check: Misleading
Independent MP Joana Cotar claimed that 304,000 rejected asylum seekers are legally required to leave Germany but continue to receive government aid.
📌 The Facts:
- Germany’s Federal Ministry of the Interior confirms that as of December 31, 2024, only 202,880 individuals were legally required to leave—not 304,000 as claimed.
- Among them, 128,355 were rejected asylum seekers (as of June 30, 2024).
- 86% of those “required to leave” have a toleration permit (Duldung) due to medical, legal, or educational reasons, meaning they cannot be deported immediately.
- The real number of rejected asylum seekers eligible for immediate deportation is only 17,583.
🔎 Verdict: The 304,000 figure is exaggerated, making the claim misleading.
Claim 2: “Only 0.5% of Syrians in Germany are entitled to asylum.”
🔴 Fact Check: Misleading
A post from the far-right AfD party claimed that only 5,090 Syrians out of 974,136 in Germany (0.5%) have been granted asylum, implying most are not legitimate refugees.
📌 The Facts:
- It is true that only 0.5% of Syrians in Germany have received full asylum status.
- However, the claim omits key facts:
- 88% of Syrian asylum seekers hold recognized protection status (Federal Statistical Office, 2023).
- 330,000+ Syrians have subsidiary protection, which prevents deportation due to threats of violence, torture, or death in Syria.
- Following the fall of Bashar al-Assad in 2024, Germany is debating its policy on Syrian refugees, but no forced returns have been confirmed.
🔎 Verdict: The AfD’s claim lacks context, making it misleading.
Final Verdict: Misleading
❌ The first claim exaggerates the number of asylum seekers facing deportation.
❌ The second claim ignores the legal protections granted to the majority of Syrians in Germany.
🔍 factcheckworld.com urges readers to verify facts before sharing politically charged misinformation.
📢 Stay informed. Stay factual.