Asylum processing for Syrians halted

The Danish Immigration Service has suspended the processing of asylum applications for Syrians due to the unstable situation after Bashar al-Assad’s fall. The announcement follows the Refugee Appeals Board’s decision to pause its evaluation of 69 Syrian asylum cases. The Appeals Board is deferring the expulsion deadline for those denied residency in Syria and has ceased determining the safety of regions for refugee returns amid Syria’s rapidly changing conditions. Affected asylum seekers will be kept informed by the Immigration Service. The Coordination Committee will reconvene to discuss the suspension on January 16, 2025. Syrian rebels, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, launched an offensive in Northwest Syria on November 27 and recently breached Damascus, declaring Assad’s ousting on November 8.