German Lawmakers Vote to Suspend Family Reunions for Many Migrants
Part of a Tougher Approach to Migration by the New Conservative-Led Government
German lawmakers voted on Friday to suspend family reunions for many migrants, as part of a drive by the new conservative-led government for a tougher approach to migration.
The lower house of Parliament approved the bill 444-135, suspending the possibility of family reunions for two years for migrants who have 'subsidiary protection,' a status that falls short of asylum.
At the end of March, over 388,000 people living in Germany had this status, which was granted to many fleeing Syria's civil war.
New Chancellor Friedrich Merz made tougher migration policy a central plank of his campaign for Germany's election in February.
After taking office in early May, the government stationed more police at the border and stated that some asylum-seekers trying to enter Europe's largest economy would be turned away.
The bill approved on Friday is the first legislation on migration since Merz took office.
It suspends rules dating back to 2018 that allowed up to 1,000 close relatives per month to join migrants granted limited protection, with authorities making case-by-case decisions on humanitarian grounds rather than granting an automatic right for reunions.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told lawmakers that this change would result in 12,000 fewer people being able to come to Germany each year and 'break a business model' for smugglers.
He explained that individuals often know they won't receive full recognition as refugees but still attempt to migrate to Germany due to the possibility of family reunions.
Dobrindt stated that this measure would remove a significant pull factor, emphasizing that 'our country's capacity for integration simply has a limit.'
Liberal opposition lawmakers criticized the government's approach.
Marcel Emmerich, from the Greens party, described the legislation as an 'attack on the core of every society, on a truly central value — the family,' and argued that integrating migrants requires bringing families together.
The far-right, anti-migration Alternative for Germany praised the move as a small step in the right direction.
German governments have faced pressure to curb migration over the years, as shelters across the country filled up.
The administration of Merz's predecessor, Olaf Scholz, had already taken measures such as reintroducing border checks.
Asylum applications declined from 329,120 in 2023 to 229,751 last year and continued to fall this year.
The lower house of Parliament approved the bill 444-135, suspending the possibility of family reunions for two years for migrants who have 'subsidiary protection,' a status that falls short of asylum.
At the end of March, over 388,000 people living in Germany had this status, which was granted to many fleeing Syria's civil war.
New Chancellor Friedrich Merz made tougher migration policy a central plank of his campaign for Germany's election in February.
After taking office in early May, the government stationed more police at the border and stated that some asylum-seekers trying to enter Europe's largest economy would be turned away.
The bill approved on Friday is the first legislation on migration since Merz took office.
It suspends rules dating back to 2018 that allowed up to 1,000 close relatives per month to join migrants granted limited protection, with authorities making case-by-case decisions on humanitarian grounds rather than granting an automatic right for reunions.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told lawmakers that this change would result in 12,000 fewer people being able to come to Germany each year and 'break a business model' for smugglers.
He explained that individuals often know they won't receive full recognition as refugees but still attempt to migrate to Germany due to the possibility of family reunions.
Dobrindt stated that this measure would remove a significant pull factor, emphasizing that 'our country's capacity for integration simply has a limit.'
Liberal opposition lawmakers criticized the government's approach.
Marcel Emmerich, from the Greens party, described the legislation as an 'attack on the core of every society, on a truly central value — the family,' and argued that integrating migrants requires bringing families together.
The far-right, anti-migration Alternative for Germany praised the move as a small step in the right direction.
German governments have faced pressure to curb migration over the years, as shelters across the country filled up.
The administration of Merz's predecessor, Olaf Scholz, had already taken measures such as reintroducing border checks.
Asylum applications declined from 329,120 in 2023 to 229,751 last year and continued to fall this year.
