Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser: “First step towards a fresh start in migration policy”

type:
News

, Topic:
Migration

, Date:
25 October 2022

The new legislation on residence opportunities makes it easier for well-integrated individuals to receive a permanent right of residence in Germany.

Source:
Henning Schacht

“We want people who are well integrated to have good opportunities in Germany”, said Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser in the German Bundestag. “Germany is a diverse country of immigration, and it is time we had a policy that takes this into account.”

The Members of the Bundestag discussed the new legislation on residence opportunities during an evening plenary sitting. As the responsible minister, Nancy Faeser lobbied for the parliament’s approval in the debate.

“Actively shaping immigration instead of reluctantly managing it”

Minister Faeser emphasised how, for far too long, Germany had not been actively shaping immigration into the country, but rather reluctantly managing it. “The Federal Government has set itself the ultimate goal of completely overhauling migration policy. And we will take the first step towards this today, with the new legislation on residence opportunities.”

According to Minister Faeser, the legislation would bring an end to successive suspensions of deportation and to all the bureaucracy and uncertainties associated with them. Successive suspensions of deportation result in a situation where a person’s tolerated status is extended time and again without them gaining a residence status. The person merely keeps receiving confirmation that they will not be deported for the time being.

Minister Faeser explained how successive suspensions of deportation not only placed great pressure on the individuals concerned, but that the uncertainty also caused difficulties and a great deal of effort for the authorities and for the small- and medium-sized businesses which employ these individuals.

However, Minister Faeser also emphasised that those who violate the rules will not benefit from these opportunities. The new residence opportunities do not apply to criminal offenders or individuals who provide false information about their identity.

What will change with the new residence opportunities?

Under the proposed legislation, people whose deportation has been suspended and who have been living in Germany for five years are to receive new residence opportunities for a period of one year. They can use this time to work on fulfilling the remaining requirements for a right of residence. This mainly involves demonstrating that they are able to support themselves financially, that they can speak German and that they are able to provide clear proof of their identity. If all requirements are met, these individuals will receive a permanent right of residence in Germany.

Other provisions of the new legislation on residence opportunities:

• Well-integrated individuals under 27 years of age may be granted the right of residence after three years.
• It will be easier for skilled workers to bring their families with them to Germany, as family members will no longer need to prove that they can speak German.
• Asylum applicants will be able to start taking language and integration courses while their asylum case is still pending, regardless of their prospects of remaining in Germany.
• It will be easier to withdraw criminal offenders’ right of residence and to order detention prior to deportation to ensure that they do not abscond before being deported.