Government is deliberating on migration and rental pricing regulations. - Government debates measures regarding immigration and rental cost adjustments.
Federal Government Takes Steps to Limit Migration and Extend Rent Brake
In a recent cabinet meeting, the German government announced measures aimed at curtailing immigration and extending the rent brake regulation.
The proposed plans include the temporary suspension of family reunification for refugees without asylum status, also known as subsidiary protection holders, for a period of two years. This move is expected to help further reduce migration levels. The Ministry of Justice has also put forward a bill to extend the rent brake, which is set to expire at the end of the year. The initial extension will be for four years.
The government's asylum policy will now focus on refusing entry to most asylum seekers. This policy shift, part of broader efforts to decrease asylum applications, is intended to reduce the number of applications, which fell from 352,000 in 2023 to 250,000 in 2024.
In terms of border control and refugee acceptance, the government is set to implement stricter measures.
Regarding family reunification, the suspension will impact individuals who have been integrated into German society for several years but were forced to flee war or persecution. The move is met with criticism from organizations such as Pro Asyl and the Lower Saxony Refugee Council, who view it as a "family destruction law" and a human rights issue.
Details on a rent brake policy were not discussed in the recent cabinet meeting. The focus was primarily on immigration and asylum policies.
- The German government's proposal to temporarily suspend family reunification for some refugees without asylum status aligns with their broader policy-and-legislation aimed at curtailing migration.
- The critical reactions from organizations such as Pro Asyl and the Lower Saxony Refugee Council towards the proposed family reunification suspension highlight the political implications of the government's stance on immigration and employment policy.
