May 6 is a turning point for refugees
Berlin - The new German government, led by the schwarz-rot coalition (the black-red coalition between CDU and SPD), announced strict measures to limit immigration and asylum, starting from May 6. Thorsten Frei, a close associate of the expected chancellor Friedrich Merz, stated that anyone attempting to enter Germany illegally will be denied entry at the border.
Asylum applications will be processed in the future at the external borders of the European Union, instead of German territory. Border control in Germany will be strengthened as soon as the new government takes office. Frei confirmed that most asylum applications should be submitted in the first country the refugee enters within the European Union, which is rarely Germany.
Preliminary agreements have been reached with European countries such as France, Austria, and Poland to support these steps. However, human rights organizations and legal experts have expressed concerns about the compliance of these measures with European and international law, as some of these countries still publicly oppose their implementation.
As part of the coalition plan, the asylum procedure law will be reformed to expedite the resolution of cases, allowing courts to review documents instead of conducting evidentiary hearings, which reduces the duration of appeals from over a year to two or three months, as explained by asylum judge Tobias Hepperle. However, international law expert Constantin Hruschka warned that these reforms "cannot be implemented legally."
In 2024, more than 130,000 asylum appeals were submitted, of which only 18% were accepted, a decrease of 50% compared to 2022. The government is seeking to reduce the burden on the courts by using digital tools and artificial intelligence, as is the case in the state of Baden-Württemberg.
Despite severe criticism from the Jusos youth organization affiliated with the SPD, 85% of party members approved the coalition agreement. The agreement includes maintaining the fundamental right to asylum, but with a freeze on family reunification for asylum seekers with limited protection for two years, which will affect about 24,000 people.
Alexander Dobrindt, the incoming Minister of the Interior from CSU, announced plans to return some refugees to Syria and Afghanistan, initially only for criminals. The so-called 'deportation suspension' will also be expanded to force those whose applications are rejected to leave. Additionally, social assistance for Ukrainian refugees arriving after April 1, 2025, will be reduced.
In addition to immigration policy, Frei revealed plans for economic reforms, including tax cuts and no increases, along with restructuring the pension and welfare systems. He also emphasized the importance of partnership with the United States despite the return of uncertainty regarding Donald Trump's future, while enhancing the independence of European defense policy.
The Merz government seeks to achieve a delicate balance between tightening control over immigration and respecting human rights. The success of this difficult task will become evident in the months following May 6.