Germany’s controversial climate bill has recently passed the lower house of parliament. This new law implicitly suspends family reunifications of migrants with the status of subsidiary protection for a minimum period of two years. This decision will have an impact on more than 380,000 people currently residing in Germany. The majority of them are Syrians who have fled their devastated country. The shift reflects a growing trend among European countries. They’re increasingly making it harder to use family reunification, as they in turn face rising migration pressures.
Well, the German parliament has passed a momentous test. This is all happening as fears mount over social services’ capacity to absorb a large influx of refugees. Austria made similar moves too, as it temporarily suspended family reunification for refugees in March, citing overstretched resources. This suspension will impact an estimated 18,000 people who used family reunification pathways to arrive in Austria in 2023 and 2024.
Germany was the first to suspend family reunifications for this group in 2016. In 2018, the country reactivated the program, increasing the number of visas that can be issued monthly to 1,000. The political landscape has shifted immensely since we started this work. Meanwhile, countries such as Portugal, Finland and Belgium are cracking down on their rules or pledging to strengthen them. This practice sets an alarming precedent for the future of family unity among asylum seekers throughout Europe.
Ahmad Shikh Ali, a Syrian refugee resettled in Hanover, spoke to the emotional devastation brought forth by the new law. He had been close to reuniting with his family, having made significant efforts to secure a stable life in Germany by obtaining full-time employment. With just two cases ahead of his in the reunification queue, he was beginning to feel the hope fade.
“It’s striking to us that the political parties who in their programmes attach a lot of value to family life, to families as the core of society, are at the forefront in limiting the right of a family life of a certain group.” – Ahmad Shikh Ali
The impact of these suspensions goes further than just the individual cases. Advocates and organizations focused on migrant rights are voicing their concerns about the psychological toll on families separated by these barriers. Wiebke Judith of Pro Asyl underlined the reality that anxious people must now live with as they fear for their relatives. At the same time, they’re making tremendous efforts to assimilate into German society.
“It’s extremely hard for people who come here and are worrying every day about their kids, their spouses, to concentrate on learning German, finding a job or on doing normal, everyday things. It’s a huge mental burden that can lead to signs of depression and frustration.” – Wiebke Judith
The situation is particularly dire for children. As many as 13,000 of those who stand to be impacted by the latest family reunification suspensions are children. These long separations deepen any underlying traumas and prevent the establishment of strong, healthy families.
Federica Toscano, an advocate for asylum seeker rights, emphasized that family unity is crucial not just for emotional well-being but for successful integration into society.
“Family unity is a value in our society.” – Federica Toscano
Yet the belittling of family reunification policy as just bureaucratic red tape misses the mark about how harshly it enforces families’ lives. Judith flagged the risk that many refugees would seek out irregular migration routes to be reunited with their loved ones. This shortsighted decision puts them in grave danger.
“Now without family reunification, this means people will be taking much more irregular routes that will risk their integrity and their life, so we really see this as also life-threatening.” – Aimée Stuflesser
This ongoing restriction of family reunification has fostered deepening outrage among migrants and advocates. Many argue that these policies go against the professed aims of the politicians who continue to support orderly and humane migration practices.
“We have politicians who proudly claim to want to make migration much more manageable, fair, organised and planned – and family reunification is one of the most planned, legally secure and integration-promoting ways of taking in people who are seeking protection.” – Federica Toscano
The debate continues to heat up, leaving families such as Ahmad Shikh Ali’s in limbo. At the same time they contend with the emotional burden of being distanced from their families. The implications go far beyond lives saved. They raise moral issues of how societies value family reunification and humane treatment towards migrants.