A Temporary Pause on Refugee Family Reunification in Germany
Bundesparlament advocates for a shift in policy: suspension of family reunification procedures
Berlin (dpa) - The Bundestag (Germany's federal parliament) has made a move to temporarily halt family reunification for refugees holding subsidiary protection status for an initial period of two years. This decision marks the start of several planned reform projects in immigration policy by the federal government.
Up until now, around 1,000 close relatives per month (approximately 12,000 annually) of people with subsidiary protection could be reunited with them in Germany under a quota system introduced in 2018. However, this right to family reunification will now be put on hold for two years, albeit with exceptions for "cases of hardship," such as reuniting unaccompanied minor migrants with their parents or bringing underage children.
Policy Motivation
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) has argued that allowing family reunification for those with subsidiary protection creates a "pull factor" that motivates irregular migration and benefits human traffickers. The suspension aims to "break a business model" exploited by traffickers and reduce incentive for migrants who know they won’t receive full asylum status but expect to bring family later.
Criticism and Concerns
Critics, including left-wing politicians and refugee advocates, have deemed the move harsh and merciless, emphasizing that family unity is essential for effective integration. Some experts view this law as largely symbolic, given the scale of past asylum applications and existing migrant populations, and question its practical impact on Germany’s overall migration dynamics.
The suspension applies only to refugees granted subsidiary protection—those who are allowed to remain because it is too dangerous to return home, but who are not officially recognized as refugees under the Geneva Refugee Convention. The policy is part of Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s broader push to tighten immigration policy and set a more restrictive tone during his government's legislative period.
Implications of the Pause
- Reduction in Migration Numbers: The Interior Ministry estimates the suspension will reduce immigration by about 12,000 people per year, alleviating pressures on Germany's social systems, education, and housing.
- No Impact on Recognized Refugees: The law explicitly does not affect individuals recognized as refugees under the Geneva Convention or those with full asylum status; their family reunification rights remain intact.
Questionable legal knowledge and responsibility have been raised regarding the Interior Minister's decision to turn back asylum seekers at German borders, defying an urgent ruling by the Berlin Administrative Court. Green parliamentary manager Irene Mihalic has questioned whether Dobrindt has changed his justification for turning back protection seekers after the court decision, to which the ministry has replied that "no justification for turning back protection seekers/asylum seekers had been adapted or sent to the federal police."
While the long-term effects and post-suspension approach remain uncertain, this policy shift is undeniably significant in the broader scope of the new government's stricter immigration agenda.
The temporary halt in family reunification for refugees with subsidiary protection status is a part of the federal government's planned reform projects in immigration policy, and is motivated by the belief that it reduces incentives for irregular migration and weakens human trafficking networks. Yet, critics argue that this move disregards the importance of family unity for effective integration and question its practical impact, as well as the legality of certain related decisions made by the Interior Minister.
