Bundestag Approves Sweeping Asylum Law Tightening to Expedite Deportations

Bundestag Strengthens Asylum Legislation

The German Bundestag has recently approved a comprehensive package of legislative changes designed to significantly tighten the country's asylum laws and facilitate the deportation of rejected asylum seekers. The measures, adopted on Friday, December 6, 2025, mark a continued effort by Germany to manage migration flows and accelerate return procedures for individuals without a legal right to remain in the country.

Streamlining Deportations Through 'Safe Countries' Classification

A central component of the newly approved legislation empowers the German government to designate countries as 'safe countries of origin' by decree, bypassing the need for approval from the Bundesrat (Federal Council). This change is intended to streamline asylum procedures and expedite deportations for individuals originating from these designated countries. An exception will apply only to those seeking asylum on grounds of political persecution.

This move is part of a broader strategy to implement the Common European Asylum System (CEAS) into German law, with proposals adopted by the Federal Cabinet on September 3, 2025. Under these provisions, asylum applications from individuals entering Germany via airports and seaports at the EU's external borders will be examined directly upon arrival, with a return procedure aimed for completion within twelve weeks if protection is not granted.

Enhanced Enforcement and Custody Measures

Further measures to ease deportations have been progressively introduced. In February 2024, the 'Rückführungsverbesserungsgesetz' (Law on Improving Deportation Procedures) came into force, extending the maximum length of pre-deportation custody from 10 to 28 days to reduce the risk of individuals absconding. This law also granted authorities greater powers, such as the ability to enter shared residential rooms to search for documentation that establishes a person's identity, and removed the obligation to give advance notice of deportations in certain cases.

Additionally, a 'security package' passed by the Bundestag in October 2024 included provisions to eliminate aid for asylum seekers who first entered another EU country, known as 'Dublin cases.' This aims to encourage voluntary departure and reduce the financial burden on the social welfare system.

Stricter Naturalization Rules and Rights During Deportation

The recent Bundestag approval on December 6, 2025, also introduces stricter rules for obtaining German citizenship. A separate bill stipulates that individuals who provide false or incomplete information during their citizenship application will face a ten-year prohibition from naturalization.

In a related parliamentary decision on October 9, 2025, the fast-track citizenship law, which allowed well-integrated migrants to apply for German citizenship after three years of residency instead of five, was scrapped.

Furthermore, the new legislation restricts the rights of individuals facing deportation. Those in detention for deportation will no longer be entitled to assistance from a state-funded lawyer to defend their interests, a measure intended to reduce bureaucratic delays and accelerate the deportation process.