Berlin Loosens Residence Restrictions for 189 Asylum Seekers
Granted approval for residence permits in 189 instances by the Commission. - Granted residency permits in 189 instances, according to commission's decision.
Got some good news for those facing immigration hurdles in Berlin? It seems the Berlin Hardship Commission did! Last year, the commission granted residence permits to 189 asylum seekers who initially got a thumbs down from the authorities.
Senator Iris Spranger (SPD)from the Interior Department approved 189 of the 211 requests from the commission, allowing the State Office for Immigration to issue the much-needed permits. Of the total 435 individuals involved, the commission looked into 283 cases last year.
The countries of origin of these cases weren't confined to one continent, with people hailing from Georgia, Turkey, Nigeria, Azerbaijan, Serbia, Armenia, and more. While these numbers have been rising steadily over the past few years (up from 72.4% in 2020), they also saw a dip from the previous year's magnificent 96%.
The Interior Administration, however, has kept mum about the exact number of individual cases.
The Hardship Commission, a collective effort from churches and welfare associations, was founded back in 2005 as a helping hand for people with migration or refugee backgrounds. For those who can't get a permit due to other legal reasons in Berlin, this commission serves as a beacon of hope.
The commission investigates cases where an individual's residency must be terminated due to pressing personal or humanitarian crises. They look into integration issues and discuss each case on an individual level. If Senator Spranger gives the green light to a hardship application, a residence permit can be issued.
Despite the Berlin Senate Department of the Interior remaining mum on the specifics of these countries' hardship cases, Spranger recognized the commission's efforts, stating, "Thanks to their dedication, we're preventing unfair immigration law hardships."
The complexities and nuances of Berlin's migration policies fall under the jurisdiction of the Landesamt für Einwanderung (LEA), which handles residential permits, including those for hardship cases under Section 23a of the Residence Act. This section generally focuses on humanitarian or economic grounds.
As the new government proposes to tighten border controls and curb illegal migration, the landscape of immigration laws might slightly shift, but the specifics are yet to unfold.
Stay tuned to see how the Hardship Commission continues to be the last resort for those seeking a fresh start in Berlin!
- Berlin
- Hardship Commission
- Residence Permit
- Iris Spranger
- Asylum Seekers
- Migration Policy
- SPD
- Georgia
- Turkey
- Nigeria
- Azerbaijan
- Serbia
- Armenia
- The Hardship Commission, founded in 2005, enables individuals with migration or refugee backgrounds in Berlin to have a chance at a residence permit, particularly for those who can't get a permit due to other legal reasons.
- The Berlin Hardship Commission, a collective effort from churches and welfare associations, investigates cases where an individual's residency must be terminated due to pressing personal or humanitarian crises, discussing each case on an individual level.
- Senator Iris Spranger (SPD) from the Interior Department, in her role, approved 189 of the 211 requests from the commission in 2023, allowing the State Office for Immigration to issue much-needed residence permits.
- Last year, the Berlin Hardship Commission granted residence permits to 189 asylum seekers who initially got a thumbs down from the authorities, dealing with cases that originated from various countries such as Georgia, Turkey, Nigeria, Azerbaijan, Serbia, Armenia, among others.
