MORE researcher Sabine Hess recently contributed to MDR Aktuell Talk, discussing Germany’s deportations to Afghanistan and the wider legal and European policy context surrounding returns.
The interview, broadcast on 28 July 2026, followed a deportation flight from Leipzig to Afghanistan that sparked protests in the city. The programme examined the consequences of Germany’s evolving deportation policy, including the country’s cooperation with the Taliban and the implications of returning people to Afghanistan.
Speaking on the programme, Sabine Hess, migration researcher at the University of Göttingen, contributed to the discussion on how deportation practices intersect with legal frameworks, human rights and European migration policy.
The issue has gained further attention in recent months. In August 2026, another deportation flight from Leipzig/Halle to Kabul took place, with the German government indicating that returns would no longer be limited to convicted offenders and so-called security risks.
The discussion highlights the importance of examining migration policies not only through national debates, but also through their wider European, legal and social implications.
Watch the full interview on the ARD Mediathek:
Watch the MDR Aktuell interview with Sabine Hess
