Austria's Deportation Process: A Comprehensive Overview

Austria has been deporting asylum seekers and those with criminal records, including Afghans and Syrians. In 2017, the Austrian authorities decided to deport asylum seekers back to Croatia, their point of entry to the EU, under the Dublin regulation. In 2024, Austria joined Germany in deporting Afghans with criminal records back to Afghanistan. Austria's Interior Minister has also called for talks on reassessing the EU-wide ban on deportations to Afghanistan and Syria.

Austria's deportation of Afghans and Syrians

Austria has been deporting Afghans and Syrians with criminal records back to their home countries. In 2024, Chancellor Karl Nehammer announced that Austria would be working with Germany on joint deportations to Afghanistan. The Austrian government has also been deporting asylum seekers, sending them back to Croatia, their point of entry to the EU, under the Dublin regulation. In some cases, Austrian authorities have imposed custody pending removal as part of the deportation process.

Austria's deportation of asylum seekers

Austria has been deporting asylum seekers since at least 2017, when the European Court of Justice ruled that asylum seekers who had crossed the Croatian border irregularly could be deported back to Croatia, their point of entry to the EU, under the Dublin regulation. Austria has also been deporting Afghans and Syrians, although this is currently against EU law. In 2024, Austria announced that it would work with Germany on joint deportations of people with criminal records to Afghanistan. Austrian law allows for custody pending removal as part of the deportation process, although this does not apply to minors.

Austria's joint deportation of criminals with Germany

Austria has joined Germany in deporting Afghans with criminal records back to Afghanistan. Chancellor Karl Nehammer said that the Austrian government had been in negotiations with Germany for a long time about how to solve the problem of deportations to Afghanistan. The Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner called Germany's decision "very good". Austria is also deporting Syrians, but currently, it is against EU law to repatriate people to Syria or Afghanistan.

The idea of joint deportations with Germany has been popular among many across Austria's political spectrum, although some have cautioned that cases must be carefully scrutinised. Almost 9,000 Afghan nationals applied for asylum in Austria last year, according to the Austrian immigration agency.

Austria can deport asylum seekers, and in 2017, the Austrian authorities decided to deport some asylum seekers back to Croatia, their point of entry to the EU, under the Dublin regulation. As part of the deportation process, custody pending removal may also be imposed if it is considered expedient.

Austria's deportation of EU citizens

Austria has deported asylum seekers and Afghans with criminal records. In 2017, the Austrian authorities decided to deport asylum seekers back to Croatia, their point of entry to the EU, under the Dublin regulation. Austria has also deported Afghans and Syrians, and in 2024, it joined Germany in deporting Afghans with criminal records back to Afghanistan. Austria's interior minister has called for talks on reassessing the EU-wide ban on deportations to Afghanistan and Syria, currently in place due to contravention of EU law.

Austria can also deport EU citizens who have returned to the country in breach of an entry ban or legal ban on residing in the country. As part of the deportation process, custody pending removal may be imposed.

Austria's deportation of people to Croatia, their point of entry to the EU

Austria has deported asylum seekers to Croatia, their point of entry to the EU, under the Dublin regulation. The European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that their crossing of the Croatian border had to be considered irregular under the Dublin rule. This means that just because one EU country allows a non-EU citizen to enter its territory on humanitarian grounds, that authorisation is not valid in other EU countries.

Austria has also deported Afghans and Syrians. In 2024, Austria joined Germany in deporting Afghans with criminal records back home. Austria's interior minister called for talks on whether to reassess the EU-wide ban on deportations to Afghanistan and Syria as "necessary and urgent".

Austria has also deported EU citizens who have returned to the country in breach of an entry ban or legal ban on residing in the country. As part of the deportation process, custody pending removal may also be imposed if this is considered expedient (this does not apply to minors).

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