Return to Syria: Only 0.6% of refugees in Meißen decide!

Return to Syria: Only 0.6% of refugees in Meißen decide!

The return of Syrian citizens from Germany remains a topic that affects many minds. The latest figures show that around 1,252 Syrian nationals are registered in the Meißen district, with 1,020 of them considered refugees. A small inquiry from AfD member of the state parliament Thomas Kirste revealed that between December 2024 and July 2025 only eight of these people voluntarily returned to their homeland. This corresponds to a remarkably low return rate of just 0.6 percent, while at the same time 35 new Syrian refugees have moved to the region, as diesachsen.de reports.

The return of the eight Syrians was supported with a significant financial support package totaling 12,744 euros, meaning that each returnee received on average around 1,593 euros. This circumstance led Thomas Kirste to question the financial incentives for remaining in Germany. He demands that only the return of people who actually have a reason to flee be supported, and he also speaks out clearly against permanent immigration without sufficient reason.

Return of Syrians from Germany

In general, an investigation by the ARD political magazine Panorama shows that around 4,000 Syrians have returned from Germany since the change of power in Syria. In the first half of 2025, 995 of these returnees will use the funded return program “REAG/GARP 2.0”, which offers financial support for leaving the country. This includes, among other things, start-up aid of 1,000 euros per person, up to a maximum of 4,000 euros per family, as well as travel allowances of 200 euros for adults and 100 euros for children. It is clear here that the federal government is creating opportunities to make return easier, even if the exact number of those who actually arrive in Syria remains unclear, as tagesschau.de highlights.

So far, however, there have been no deportations to Syria. The Federal Ministry of the Interior plans to change this and intends to return criminals and those at risk. Austria has gone one step further and has already deported people to Syria. According to Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, the need for such deportations is obvious. But the political situation in Syria remains tense and dangerous, which is why the Foreign Office advises against traveling to the country and classifies the situation as unpredictable.

Surveys show that a majority of Germans, namely 52 percent, support the return of Syrians who are not well integrated, while 25 percent advocate a rapid return of all Syrian refugees. However, there are also critical voices, such as that of Green Party politician Luise Amtberg, who question the federal government's repatriation plans and keep an eye on the dynamic developments in the region.

There is certainly still a lot of movement in the Cologne discussion on the subject of return, and it remains to be seen how the federal government and political actors will respond to the ongoing challenges.