The family reunification comment provokes the anger of the opposition
The Green Party accused German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (from the CSU party) of mimicking the rhetoric of the far-right AfD party, due to his repeated emphasis on the dangers of what he described as 'illegal immigration'. This came during a parliamentary debate on a bill aimed at suspending family reunification for those granted subsidiary protection.
Dobrindt reiterated his commitment to limiting irregular migration, stating that there is no "one button to press to solve the problem"; rather, it requires a series of measures at the national and European levels, which the government is gradually implementing.
His statements sparked sharp criticism from "Die Grünen" and "Die Linke", where MP Shahina Ghamber clarified that family reunification is not irregular migration, but an organized procedure that defines who will enter the country. She added that blocking legal pathways will push people to traffickers. She described the plan as inhumane because "families should stay together."
For her part, the representative of "Die Linke", Clara Bunger, attacked the bill and described it as "anti-family" and "against Christian values", considering that it drives people to illegal ways instead of securing legal routes.
Currently, holders of subsidiary protection are allowed to reunite with a maximum of 1,000 relatives per month. The new plan proposes to suspend this right entirely for two years, except for "emergency humanitarian cases." It also aims to reintroduce the term "immigration control" into the laws, which the "Ampel" government had previously removed from the residency law.
Despite the decline in the number of asylum applications in Germany – with 329,120 applications recorded in 2023, followed by 229,751 the following year – the debate about the reasons continues. Some attribute the decline to tightened border controls, while others believe that the role of countries like Serbia and Poland has been crucial. Dobrindt stated, "Border inspections are effective, and therefore we continue them." The Social Democratic Party (SPD) described the decision as a "difficult compromise," and MP Rasha Nasr pointed out that family life is essential for successful integration, calling for a flexible application of exceptional case rules.
In turn, Alexander Throm from the CDU party said that family reunification represents a "major attraction" for immigration, pointing out that Syrians can still obtain alternative residence permits through work and self-reliance. He added that the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has changed the situation in Syria, making return possible.
On the other hand, the "AfD" considered that the project does not go far enough, and MP Gottfried Curio described the plan as "a shift in immigration policy but with the brakes on." According to the central foreigners' register, the number of people granted a residence permit for subsidiary protection in Germany until March 31, 2025, is about 388,074.