According to data from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), a total of 1,906 initial asylum applications from Syrians were rejected in October, while 163 applications were rejected during the period from January to September.
The figures come as BAMF resumed processing asylum requests from “young, able-bodied” male Syrians in late September after suspending almost all such decisions last December following the change in government in Syria.
“In justified individual cases, the Federal Office has also issued absolute rejections against Syrian nationals,” BAMF said, referring to cases involving criminals and people who pose a potential threat.
The coalition government led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz of the conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) has vowed to take a tough stance on migration in a bid to deflate the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD).
Specifically, it has promised to reject more asylum seekers generally, but especially those with criminal records.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said in a newspaper interview in September that the government intended to reach an agreement with Syria this year that would allow the deportation of criminals and later those who no longer have the right of residence in Germany.
The plans have been criticized by several human rights and refugee advocacy groups, who say Syria is still not a safe country to return to.
Foreign Minister Johann Waddefull also said on Tuesday that the situation in Syria after World War II was “worse than Germany in 1945”, a comment that caused consternation among his fellow Christian Democrats.
About one million Syrians live in Germany, most of whom came as refugees fleeing their country’s civil war in 2015–2016.