A new report by Germany’s Federal Police reveals that newly arrived Afghan migrants without legal residency are disproportionately involved in criminal activity, particularly violent offences and homicides, compared with German nationals. The findings underscore growing concerns about the security challenges posed by individuals entering the country without proper documentation.
While overall migrant-related crime in Germany fell by more than three per cent in 2024—a decline partly attributed to the country’s legalisation of cannabis the report shows that, relative to their population size, newly arrived Afghans remain significantly overrepresented in several serious crime categories. Police recorded 1,722 violent offences per 100,000 Afghan nationals, compared with just 163 per 100,000 Germans. These figures highlight the stark disparity in involvement in violent crime between newly arrived Afghans and the general population.
Of the 3.1 million criminal cases registered nationwide, 331,308, or roughly 11 per cent, involved at least one suspect classified as a newly arrived migrant. This category specifically includes individuals with unclear residency status and excludes asylum seekers with regular residency, Germans with migration backgrounds, skilled workers, or international students. Afghan nationals were also found to be overrepresented in cases of sexual offences and drug-related crimes relative to their share of the new migrant population.
Germany’s Interior Minister, Alexander Dobrindt, responded to the report by emphasising that migrants who work and obey the law have the right to remain in the country. However, he made clear that those who pose a security threat will face deportation efforts, with Afghanistan among the countries from which such individuals may be returned.
Germany continues to host one of the largest Afghan migrant populations in Europe, a factor that has drawn attention from law enforcement and policymakers seeking to balance humanitarian commitments with public safety. The latest data underscore the need for robust screening, monitoring, and targeted interventions to address the disproportionate involvement of newly arrived Afghans in serious criminal activity, while ensuring that legal residents and contributing members of society are not unfairly penalised.
The report serves as a reminder that unchecked migration from Afghanistan continues to pose security challenges for host countries, and highlights the importance of clear residency regulations, effective law enforcement, and international cooperation in managing migration-related risks.
