Denial of Safeguard
In a move that has raised eyebrows worldwide, the German government has suspended its humanitarian resettlement programme, a decision that could have dire consequences for thousands of vulnerable individuals.
The programme, although modest in scale, is crucial in providing a lifeline to some of the world's most vulnerable people. Since July, no new applications are being accepted for the humanitarian visa program and other related programmes. This decision has left many former local staff from Afghanistan, who worked for or received support from the German government, stranded in Pakistan and facing detention and deportation back to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
The German government's decision to suspend its humanitarian admission programs, including Sections 22 and 23 of the Residence Act, indefinitely, has also affected refugees in Kenya who had approval for resettlement to Germany through the UNHCR program. These refugees were denied their visas and sent back to the Kakuma refugee camp.
The suspension of family reunification for people with subsidiary protection status in Germany further exacerbates the situation. This means that these individuals, who were promised resettlement in Germany, now fear for their lives if they have to return to their home countries.
Human rights organizations have reported cases of activists being exposed to reprisals as a result of the German government's decisions. For instance, Russian dissidents and Belarusian human rights defenders, who previously sought protection and continuation of their work in Germany, are now left in an authoritarian cold due to the closed door in Berlin.
The Taliban are now an uncomfortable partner for Berlin, supporting the government to coordinate deportations, while Afghans who worked with German organizations are abandoned across the border in Pakistan. This has led to a breach of international and European law, as the German government is ignoring court orders and denying visas to refugees.
Proasyl and the partnership network Ortskräfe have filed a lawsuit against Federal Ministers Wadephul and Dobrindt, claiming the German government's decision to suspend protection commitments is unlawful. The coalition has partially resumed entry of vulnerable Afghans due to legal and diplomatic pressure, but only through concerted civil society action and robust opposition politics.
Offering a lifeline to persecuted individuals should remain rooted in the understanding that Germany's interests are best served by aligning with those who fight for rights and democracy abroad. The German government's decisions on humanitarian resettlement policies are consequential not only for those who depend on them, but also for Germany's international credibility and reputation.
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