Germany’s Afghan refugee programme has come under fierce scrutiny following revelations that the government allowed thousands of migrants to enter the country with fake documents and fabricated stories—many with the active support of NGOs it continues to fund.
A major investigation by Der Spiegel uncovered widespread fraud in German resettlement schemes for “at-risk” Afghans after the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. More than 36,000 Afghans have entered Germany through these programmes, most via Pakistan. While the initiative was intended for former local staff of the German army and other high-risk groups, internal government reports show that the system was exploited on a large scale.
“What am I now—trans or gay?”
German embassy officials in Islamabad warned of “highly concerning” practices. Visa applicants often presented forged identity documents and unverifiable claims of persecution. Some were openly coached to lie during interviews. One man, whose story had been written for him by NGO handlers, messaged an activist asking, “What am I now—trans or gay?”
The abuse appears systemic. In one instance, a group of ten individuals submitted 21 fake Afghan ID cards claiming family ties to a man who had taught literacy classes. In truth, many had been living in Pakistan for years and may not have been Afghan nationals at all.
Security officials also discovered that Islamist figures and individuals with Taliban links had appeared on visa lists. Internal emails reveal that under Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, the Foreign Office instructed embassy staff to use “maximum leniency” when verifying identities, often ignoring red flags flagged by police.
The NGOs involved in selecting candidates for these programmes remain mostly unnamed. German authorities have not even provided a full list of the organisations involved to their own security services. However, one NGO—Kabul Luftbrücke—has been identified after its former staff member Theresa Breuer criticised the process as being driven by favouritism and lacking proper oversight. She described the programme as “a scheme for friends of NGO staff.”
Meanwhile, the boats kept coming
The controversy over NGO involvement in migration is not new. Germany’s federal government has sent millions in taxpayer funds to NGOs operating migrant taxi services in the Mediterranean. In 2024 alone, Berlin spent nearly €2 million on such groups, including SOS Humanity and Sant’Egidio. These organisations routinely bring migrants rescued off the coast of North Africa directly to European ports, bypassing closer safe destinations.
Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has condemned the practice, accusing Germany of fuelling illegal migration and increasing pressure on frontline EU states.
Despite claiming a tougher stance on immigration, Germany’s current coalition—including the CDU under Friedrich Merz—has failed to halt funding to these groups. Critics have accused Merz of going silent on NGO financing after forming a government with the Social Democrats and seeking Green Party support for a €1 trillion debt package.
The revelations of fraudulent visa practices raise serious questions about Berlin’s commitment to border control and national security. FDP deputy leader Wolfgang Kubicki has now called for a parliamentary inquiry into the actions of Baerbock’s Foreign Ministry, warning that the lax policies represent “a security risk for the country.”