Barriers imposed on family integration and naturalization processes
Germany Imposes Restrictions on Family Reunification and Citizenship for Migrants
Germany's new federal government is moving forward with changes to its immigration policy. The government has announced restrictions on family reunification for migrants, delays in citizenship, and overall limits on immigration.
The reforms were presented in a new Residence Act by the federal cabinet on Wednesday. Under the new rules, the entry of children and spouses for individuals with subsidiary protection status will be suspended for an initial two years. In previous years, up to 12,000 relatives could join annually. The fast-track citizenship process, which allowed residents to apply for citizenship after three years, has also been abolished, with the possibility of obtaining citizenship after at least five years in the future.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has ordered stricter border controls and the rejection of asylum seekers since taking office. These measures come in response to numerous attacks and violent incidents that resulted in injuries to a toddler, a police officer, and others during the election campaign.
The legislative proposals are known as "drafting aids" and will be initiated by the Union and SPD from the Bundestag, speeding up the procedure by omitting a review by the Bundesrat. The suspension of family reunification specifically affects those with subsidiary protection status, with around 380,000 people in Germany currently holding this status, primarily Syrians. The legislator has more leeway in this area as it pertains to those who do not have full refugee status.
The stricter immigration and integration policies in Germany are in line with broader European trends toward tightening family reunification rules. The changes are intended to address current challenges in migration management and await approval by the German parliament (Bundestag).
The new Residence Act, proposed by Germany's federal cabinet, includes restrictions on family reunification for migrants with subsidiary protection status, as part of a broader immigration policy revision. Moreover, the abolishment of the fast-track citizenship process means that migrants may now have to wait at least five years to obtain citizenship, a significant shift in policy-and-legislation related to migration and integration.
