Parliament Temporarily Halts Refugee Family Reunification
The Bundestag, Germany's federal parliament, has made waves with its decision to temporarily halt family reunification for foreigners with limited protection status for a period of two years. This measure primarily impacts refugees from Syria. The coalition-backed bill, which garnered the support of 444 members of parliament, was passed with 135 votes against, as reported by Bundestag Vice-President Bodo Ramelow.
German Government's Agenda for Migration Control
Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt declared that the goal is to establish equilibrium in the influx of immigrants to Germany. "We are setting the migration policy agenda for this legislative period: a balance of humanity and order," he said. With the ban on family reunification, approximately 12,000 fewer people are expected to arrive in Germany compared to the previous regulation, informed the CSU politician.
Early Concerns and Action
Dobrindt had emphasized the limitations of Germany's social system, education system, childcare system, and housing market necessitating a cap on immigration. "Immigration to Germany must also have its limits, which we are politically defining," he reiterated. The suspension of family reunification was previously limited to 1,000 members per month. In the future, only in hardship cases will spouses, minor children, and in the case of unaccompanied minors, parents be allowed to join.
AfD's Position and Criticism
The liberal populist party, AfD, described the coalition's legislative proposal as a "small step in the right direction," opting to support it. Its parliamentary business manager, Bernd Baumann, acknowledged that Dobrindt had borrowed ideas from the AfD.
The debate in the Bundestag was marked by heated interruptions and strong criticisms, leading Bundestag President Julia Klöckner to issue a formal warning to Luigi Pantisano from the Left faction for accusing the Interior Minister of lying. The refugee policy spokeswoman for the Left faction, Clara Bunger, condemned the coalition’s approach as "hostile to humanity."
Green Party's Reaction and Criticisms
Marcel Emmerich, the interior policy spokesman for the Green faction, countered the government's stance by arguing that family unity is pivotal for refugees' emotional support during integration. Alexander Throm, the interior policy spokesman for the Union faction, refuted this argument, asserting that the decision revolves around access to individuals who originally entered Germany illegally.
SPD's Support and Concerns
Natalie Pawlik, the Integration Commissioner of the Federal Government, advocated moving away from the negative narrative surrounding migration, emphasizing that it presents opportunities for German society. Sebastian Fiedler, the interior policy spokesman of the SPD faction, admitted that the suspension of family reunification was "a topic that the SPD would not have come up with."
Human Rights Concerns and Potential Legal Challenges
Pro Asyl, a refugee rights organization, warned about the detrimental impacts of suspending family reunification, suggesting that affected refugees may experience increased social marginalization and mental health problems. The organization has announced it will explore legal avenues and potentially support individuals in pursuing lawsuits against these suspensions.
Approximately 400,000 people in Germany fall under the subsidiary protection status, neither recognized as refugees as per the Geneva Refugee Convention, nor as asylum seekers but allowed to stay due to serious risks such as torture, death penalty, or inhumane treatment in their home country. These refugees are often civil war refugees.
- Alexander Dobrindt
- Refugees
- Migration
- Pro Asyl
- Asylum policy
- German Bundestag
Alexander Dobrindt, the Federal Interior Minister, has stated that the goal of the German government's migration policy is to establish equilibrium in the influx of immigrants. This is demonstrated through the recently passed bill that temporarily halts family reunification for foreigners with limited protection status, primarily impacting refugees from Syria. However, Pro Asyl, a refugee rights organization, has expressed concerns about the detrimental impacts of this decision on affected refugees, suggesting potential legal challenges may arise.
