Austria Ready to Deport Syrians

The dust had not yet settled in Syria when Austria announced plans on Monday to deport migrants—this was the day after Syrian dictator Bashar Assad fled the nation.

Syria needs its fellow citizens now! The fall of the Assad regime is changing the overall situation. [In principle] everyone is free to return home voluntarily and help rebuild their own country—we support Syrians in taking this step. [With the end of Assad], a safer home and the opportunity to return are within reach for thousands of Syrians. [Asylum is] deliberately intended as a temporary protection, which is why the facilitation of return plays a decisive role.
—Karl Nehammer, chancellor of Austria

Some 80,000 Syrians fled to Austria in 2015 and 2016.

Asylum suspended: Asylum procedures and family reunification have now been temporarily suspended, and rights of residence that have already been granted are now being reviewed. The next step is deportation.

I have instructed the ministry to prepare an orderly return and deportation program to Syria.
—Gerhard Karner, minister of the Interior

Belgium, France, Greece and Germany also paused Syrian asylum applications as they wait for the dust to settle.

What’s next: European countries are keen to return hundreds of thousands of Syrians to their homeland. This will help forge a prophesied alliance between Europe and the Middle East.

Learn more: Read “With Assad Out, What’s Next for Syria?”