Government takes action to halt provision of family reunification
Germany Plans to Temporarily Halt Family Reunification for Certain Refugees
Beginning soon, the federal government in Germany will implement a two-year suspension on family reunification for refugees categorized as subsidiary protection holders. The move, endorsed by Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, aims to address the pressure on the country's reception and integration systems.
Those affected by this decision primarily come from countries such as Syria, where many refugees have been seeking family reunification. It is important to note that subsidiary protection status is given to individuals who cannot substantiate instances of personal persecution but still face threats to their life or limb in their home country. As of the end of 2024, approximately 380,000 of the approximately 3.5 million refugees living in Germany currently hold this status.
Previously, up to 1,000 family members were allowed to join their relatives in Germany each month. However, since 2018, the government has implemented an annual quota of 12,000 places to address the backlog in family reunifications for children, spouses, and parents.
This suspension will not be introduced as a bill but rather as a draft resolution for the government factions in parliament. This approach usually expedites the legislative process, allowing for faster parliamentary debates. The draft resolution also proposes adding "limitation" to migration in the German Residence Act.
The temporary halt in family reunifications is expected to save around €12 million annually, primarily through cost savings from language integration courses. Moreover, the measure is anticipated to alleviate the burden on municipalities, offering an "appropriate means for quickly relieving the strain" on these crucial services.
The proposed suspension of family reunifications is part of a broader shift in Germany's migration policy and is influenced by the influence of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. It should be noted that this is not the first time Germany has temporarily suspended family reunification; the practice was implemented from March 2016 to July 2018 due to overburdened capacities.
[1] Countries with refugees primarily seeking subsidiary protection include Afghanistan and Iraq.[3] The majority of the roughly 380,000 refugees with subsidiary protection status come from Syria and Afghanistan.[4] Germany previously suspended family reunification from March 2016 to July 2018 due to overburdened capacities.[5] Information regarding budget impact, relief for municipalities, and political context is available upon request.
The suspension on family reunification for certain refugees in Germany, primarily those from countries such as Syria and Afghanistan, is expected to alleviate the burden on municipalities and save around €12 million annually, mainly through reduced spending on language integration courses. This decision is part of a broader shift in Germany's migration policy and is influenced by political factors, with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party playing a role.
