After eight grueling weeks away Bivsi Rana has arrived back in Germany, the place she calls home. Greeted by fellow classmates at the airport, she appeared happy to be among familiar faces.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/M. Becker
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Bivsi Rana, a German-born Nepalese girl, arrived at Dusseldorf airport on Wednesday to a crowd of supporters holding signs that read: "Welcome Bivsi!"
Her brother and her fellow students welcomed her at the airport when she arrived. At first, she was overcome with joy, bringing her to tears. But as her classmates and supporters gathered around her, she appeared tranquil.
Bivsi's classmates staged rallies in support of the German-born girlImage: Imago/Reichwein
After eight grueling weeks, 15-year-old Bivsi returned to the place she calls home, Germany. Despite being born in the country, German authorities pulled Bivsi out of her classroom in May and deported her and her parents to Nepal that same day.
According to authorities, her parents' asylum request had been denied more than a decade ago, effectively placing them in the unenviable position of awaiting deportation. In Germany, even if you're born in the country, you are not automatically granted citizenship.
Bivsi's deportation to Nepal shocked the community in the western city of Duisburg, prompting her fellow students to organize and lobby the mayor and local government to take action on her case.
Bivsi was met not only by supporters, but also by the media on her returnImage: picture-alliance/dpa/M. Becker
'De facto a German kid'
Duisburg Mayor Soren Link, a member of the center-left Social Democrat Party, said he was impacted by the students' efforts.
After two months of bureaucratic wrangling and protests, Bivsi was offered a "student exchange visa" to allow her to return to Germany. The visa also allowed her parents to accompany Bivsi on humanitarian grounds.
"This is a unique case that cannot be generalized," said North Rhine-Westphalia state Integration Minister Joachim Stamp in July. "The right of the child stood in the foreground in this decision. Bivsi was born in Germany and grew up here – she is de facto a German kid."
How did Europe's refugee crisis start?
From escalating violence in the Middle East and Africa to incoherent asylum policy at home - DW looks at how the EU has found itself in the midst of a refugee crisis.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa
Fleeing war and poverty
In late 2014, with the war in Syria approaching its fourth year and Islamic State making gains in the north of the country, the exodus of Syrians intensified. At the same time, others were fleeing violence and poverty in countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Eritrea, Somalia, Niger and Kosovo.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa
Seeking refuge over the border
Vast numbers of Syrian refugees had been gathering in border-town camps in neighboring Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan since 2011. By 2015, with the camps full to bursting and residents often unable to find work or educate their children, more and more people decided to seek asylum further afield.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa
A long journey on foot
In 2015 an estimated 1.5 million people made their way on foot from Greece towards western Europe via the "Balkan route". The Schengen Agreement, which allows passport-free travel within much of the EU, was called into question as refugees headed towards the wealthier European nations.
Image: Getty Images/M. Cardy
Desperate sea crossings
Tens of thousands of refugees were also attempting the perilous journey across the Mediterranean on overcrowded boats. In April 2015, 800 people of various nationalities drowned when a boat traveling from Libya capsized off the Italian coast. This was to be just one of many similar tragedies - by the end of the year, nearly 4,000 refugees were reported to have died attempting the crossing.
Image: Reuters/D. Zammit Lupi
Pressure on the borders
Countries along the EU's external border struggled to cope with the sheer number of arrivals. Fences were erected in Hungary, Slovenia, Macedonia and Austria. Asylum laws were tightened and several Schengen area countries introduced temporary border controls.
Image: picture-alliance/epa/B. Mohai
Closing the open door
Critics of German Chancellor Angela Merkel's "open-door" refugee policy claimed it had made the situation worse by encouraging more people to embark on the dangerous journey to Europe. By September 2016, Germany had also introduced temporary checks on its border with Austria.
Image: Reuters/F. Bensch
Striking a deal with Turkey
In early 2016, the EU and Turkey signed an agreement under which refugees arriving in Greece could be sent back to Turkey. The deal has been criticized by human rights groups and came under new strain following a vote by the European Parliament in November to freeze talks on Turkey's potential accession to the EU.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/A. Altan
No end in sight
With anti-immigration sentiment in Europe growing, governments are still struggling to reach a consensus on how to handle the continuing refugee crisis. Attempts to introduce quotas for the distribution of refugees among EU member states have largely failed. Conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere show no signs coming to an end, and the death toll from refugee sea crossings is on the rise.
