Germany Pauses Admission of Highly Vulnerable Refugees: A Tightened Refugee Policy
Germany Temporarily Halts Intake of Particularly Vulnerable Asylum Seekers
Hang out here and get the tea on Germany's temporary freeze on the admittance of highly vulnerable refugees. It's all because of coalition talks between the CDU, CSU, and SPD, as both the Interior Ministry and UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) confirmed to the German Press Agency (dpa) that no new commitments are currently being made for the Resettlement Program with UNHCR. But, if a case is already in the advanced stages, there might still be a chance.
In their exploratory paper, the Union and SPD agreed to phase out federal admission programs as much as possible and not to instigate any new ones. Germany promised a grand total of 13,100 spots to the UNHCR and the EU Commission for the years 2024 and 2025. As of now, around 5,061 people have snagged a place under these commitments, including Syrian refugees that EU and Turkey agreed to bring in back in 2016 as part of a humanitarian arrangement.
When it comes to the Resettlement process, the UNHCR recommends exceptionally vulnerable individuals to the accepting countries. German officials then interview and conduct security checks before making a decision. There are also additional humanitarian admission programs in Germany catering to these refugees.
To keep it 100, here's a brief lowdown on the current refugees situation in Germany by the numbers:
- Freeze on UNHCR Admissions: Germany's currently blocked new admissions of individuals who require special protection under the UNHCR program. This decision stems from ongoing coalition government negotiations, and a broader immigration policy shift with a focus on stricter border controls and limiting voluntary refugee admissions.[2]
- Existing Commitments: Although some individuals with finalized procedures may still be approved for entry, there will be no new initiatives for resettlement programs.[2] Germany had already vowed to accept 13,100 refugees for 2024 and 2025; by the end of 2025, roughly 5,061 have entered under that quota.[2]
- Coalition Government's Stance: The recent coalition between the Christian Democrats and Social Democrats pinpoints a focus on skilled migration, digitalizing the immigration process, and reducing illegal immigration.[1] Stricter border enforcement is also integrated into this policy.[2]
- Effects on Refugees: With these changes combined with revisions for Ukrainian refugees, it seems that conditions for refugees in Germany are becoming more specific. Integration into the workforce becomes a critical factor, with reduced access to social benefits for those not in employment.[4]
Altogether, Germany's refugee policy is changing direction to selective admissions, with a greater emphasis on integration and employment, impacting both asylum seekers and resettled refugees alike.
Sources: ntv.de, dpa
[1] https://www.dw.com/en/german-coalition-talks-take-a-step-forward/a-58188475[2] https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20230418-germany-freezes-plans-to-take-in-u-n-refugees[3] https://www.reuters.com/world/eu/germany-to-slow-down-refugee-arrivals-coalition-talks-2021-10-22/[4] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/germanys-new-coalition-government-unveils-plans-tighten-asylum-rules-2021-12-06/
- The German government's temporary halt in admitting highly vulnerable refugees is part of a broader shift in employment policy, with a focus on integrating refugees into the workforce and prioritizing skilled migration.
- In the Resettlement Program with UNHCR, Germany only recommends exceptionally vulnerable individuals for resettlement, following thorough interviews and security checks.
- The current situation in Germany's refugee policy suggests that individuals seeking asylum or resettlement might need to demonstrate their ability to find employment to gain access to social benefits.
