Immigrations bills set for cabinet discussion
German Coalition Plans Concrete Steps in Migration Policy
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt will present his initial draft bills for migration policy in the cabinet on Wednesday. Two specific projects in line with the coalition agreement are on the agenda: restrictions on family reunification for subsidiarily protected persons and changes to naturalization procedures.
Family Reunification Restrictions
Subsidiarily protected persons, who are unable to prove individual persecution but come from countries where their lives are endangered, currently have the right to apply for family members to join them in Germany. This category includes many asylum seekers from Syria or Afghanistan. The new coalition aims to suspend this ability temporarily for two years, a move that would cap family reunifications at zero during this period. However, the coalition will revisit the suspension after two years to determine if it will be extended or lifted.
Naturalization Changes
Naturalizations, previously facilitated after three years for exceptional cases, will now require at least five years of residency. This change affects well-integrated individuals with exceptional language skills, financial independence, and notable achievements in their work or volunteering.
As of publication, it remains uncertain if the draft bill on naturalizations will be decided upon on Wednesday. Regardless, both projects are explicitly mentioned in the coalition agreement, and the Bundestag still needs to vote on the draft bills before they can come into effect.
Migration Shift and Criticism
These changes mark a shift towards stricter migration policies, part of the larger paradigm shift promised by the black-red federal government in the coalition agreement. However, these specific measures are unlikely to significantly impact the number of asylum seekers. Strengthened border controls have led to fewer illegal entries, though. The coalition also aims to advocate for tighter policies at the European level, which could have a more substantial impact.
While the Greens support the overall migration turnaround, they express concern over the plan to suspend family reunification. Marcel Emmerich, the Green parliamentary group's interior policy spokesman, says, "Separating families is not only cruel but also irresponsible in terms of integration policy." He argues that separating families drives people into isolation, intensifies psychological pressure, and hinders integration. Emmerich holds the Union party responsible for this approach.
As the German government continues to refine its immigration strategies, these initial steps mark the beginning of a more comprehensive shift in migration policy.
The Interior Minister, Alexander Dobrindt, plans to introduce draft bills for migration policy changes, including restrictions on family reunification for subsidiary protection seekers and alterations to naturalization procedures. Specifically, family reunification for subsidiary protection seekers might be temporarily capped for two years, and naturalization requirements might increase to five years of residency for exceptional cases. However, these changes face criticism from the Green party, who express concern over the potential separation of families and its impact on integration policies.
