German Court Overturns Blanket Cancellation of Afghan Resettlement

The legal challenge originated from an Afghan mother and her two sons, who were selected for resettlement in 2021 following the Taliban’s return to power. When the Interior Ministry terminated the program in December 2025, it effectively rescinded their admission alongside hundreds of others. Judges determined that while the executive branch maintains broad discretion over immigration, that authority does not supersede the requirement to evaluate the specific circumstances of individuals who have already been promised entry.

Under the court’s order, the government must continue funding the family’s support in Pakistan until a new, constitutionally compliant decision is reached. This ruling serves as a significant check on the government's recent push to tighten humanitarian migration. Although Berlin retains the power to end resettlement schemes, the court established that existing commitments create binding legal obligations. Authorities now face the prospect of conducting individual reviews for all pending cases, a process that will likely complicate the government’s efforts to rapidly scale back humanitarian admissions.