European countries suspend asylum applications for Syrians: Plans for deportation underway

Following the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria, many countries in Europe have decided to freeze the processing of asylum applications from Syrians. After Germany, Austria, and Greece, the UK, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway, and the Netherlands have also suspended asylum applications from Syrian citizens. The Austrian government has gone a step further, announcing plans to deport Syrian refugees and send them back to their country.

UNITED KINGDOM

The UK Home Office announced that decisions on asylum applications from Syrians have been paused following the opposition's capture of the Syrian capital, Damascus, over the weekend. The ministry stated, "The Home Office has paused decisions on asylum applications from Syrian nationals while we assess the current situation."

FINLAND

The Finnish Immigration Service has made a similar decision, announcing that while asylum applications from Syrians will continue to be accepted, they will not be processed. Antti Lehtinen, Director of the Asylum Unit at Migri, Finland's immigration agency, stated, "As of this morning, we have suspended the decision-making process for asylum applications from Syrians," noting that the situation in Syria has changed significantly.

SWEDEN

Sweden has also announced that all asylum applications from Syrians will be suspended. Carl Bexelius, Head of Legal Affairs at the Swedish Migration Agency, said, "Given the current situation, it is not possible to assess the grounds for needing protection at this time."

DENMARK

The Danish Refugee Appeals Board has also announced that the processing of asylum applications from Syrian citizens has been suspended following recent developments. The agency stated, "The Danish Refugee Appeals Board is closely monitoring developments in Syria, and the committee will address the situation and the implications of these developments for relevant decisions at its next regular meeting on January 16, 2025."

NORWAY

The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) has announced that asylum applications from Syrian citizens have been temporarily suspended. In a statement issued by the UDI, the decision was attributed to the uncertainty of the situation in Syria following recent developments.

FRANCE

The French Ministry of the Interior announced that the government is preparing to freeze asylum applications from Syrians. Reports on the matter noted that the decision is expected to be made within a few hours.

The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the French government is considering a solution similar to that of Germany, which has halted asylum applications from Syrians.

NETHERLANDS

Dutch Minister of Asylum and Migration Marjolein Faber stated, "In recent days, developments in Syria have unfolded rapidly one after another. Therefore, I have decided to temporarily freeze asylum applications from those arriving from Syria."

AUSTRIA PLANS DEPORTATIONS

In Austria, where approximately 100,000 Syrian migrants reside, Interior Minister Gerhard Karner announced that the deportation of Syrian migrants is being planned. Without providing details on which status of migrants would be deported, Karner said, "I have instructed the ministry to prepare a regular return and deportation program for Syria."