Asylum deportations doubled in 2015

Feature discusses the number of asylum seekers in Germany who had their applications rejected in 2015. Many of these left voluntarily, but article suggests that unpublished statistics showed that 20,888 people were forced to leave the country over the course of 2015.

Many came from countries which Germany classified as 'Safe countries of origin', mainly in the Balkans. However, in the context of rising tensions in Germany as the overall number of asylum seekers was rising, there were growing calls in 2016 for North African nations Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria to also smooth the way for the return of failed asylum applicants.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Will Cologne change Germany's refugee policy? http://www.europeansources.info/record/will-cologne-change-germanys-refugee-policy/

ESO: Information Guide: European Migration Challenges http://www.europeansources.info/record/information-guide-european-migration-challenges/

EurActiv, 21.01.16: Germany accepted twice as many refugees as Visegrad group http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/germany-accepted-twice-many-refugees-visegrad-group-321166

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