Exposing the Spike in Disputes over Asylum Decisions: A Breakdown by Region
- ☝️Yeah, let's dive into those numbers, man!
Rise in Grievances Over Rejected Asylum Applications Highlighted in Recent Report - Notable rise in grievances lodged against asylum determinations
In the opening quarters of 2024, we've seen a whopping surge in cases of contention over asylum decisions. A grand total of 27,882 cases were recorded, with an alarming escalation observed in Lower Saxony, nearly doubling the previous figures with a staggering 120%. Close behind, Schleswig-Holstein and Saarland followed suit, reporting an upward trend of 119% and 110% respectively.
Against this escalating situation, the German Association of Administrative Judges, as reported by "Bild," has labeled the target set by the federal and state governments to significantly streamline asylum appeal proceedings by July 2026, as impractical under the proposed reform of the common European asylum system. As Caroline Bülow, deputy chairwoman of the association, put it to the newspaper, "Many federal states will not be capable of completing asylum proceedings within the planned six-month deadline."
The Association of Thuringian Administrative Judges has raised the specter of a personnel crisis. "We currently have enough work on our plate at the Administrative Court in Weimar for an entire year in 2025," Bild quoted the chairman Thomas Lenhart. Without a drastic boost in personnel, this could result in elongated processing times of up to 24 months in Thuringia by 2026.
- Asylum Decision
- Complaint
- Emergency Procedure
- Escalation
- Bild Newspaper
- Lower Saxony
- Schleswig-Holstein
- Saarland
- Administrative Court
Did you know that the recent shifts in Germany's asylum policies have been quite dynamic? The number of asylum applications has seen a noticeable drop in recent times[1] and, in a striking court ruling in June 2025, the policy of border pushbacks for asylum seekers was deemed illegal, which may influence processing times[5].
Additionally, as of July 1, 2025, Germany is set to eliminate the remonstrance process for visa applicants, requiring them to proceed through appeals instead[3]. Although this may imply broader reforms in administrative procedures, there's no concrete evidence indicating that it will help tackle the personnel crisis.
Generally speaking, administrative courts in Germany are constantly grappling with managing heavy caseloads, which can be exacerbated by personnel issues. However, specific action plans to alleviate staff shortages by 2026 have yet to be detailed in publicly available sources.
To successfully confront the looming staff shortages, it's crucial for the German government to take decisive action – think about hiring new staff, upgrading training programs, or optimizing procedures. But without concrete announcements or strategies, it remains uncertain how these challenges will be overcome by 2026. Keep tabs on this story, because things are heating up!
- In response to the escalating contention over asylum decisions in Germany, the German Association of Administrative Judges has questioned the feasibility of the federal and state governments' goal to expedite asylum appeal proceedings, suggested by "Bild", due to the proposed reform of the common European asylum system.
- To address the looming staff shortages at administrative courts, such as the Administrative Court in Weimar, the German government needs to take decisive action, such as hiring new staff, upgrading vocational training programs for administrative judges, or optimizing legal procedures, but as of yet, there are no concrete announcements or strategies regarding these actions.
