Over 100k Illegal Migrants in Germany May Be Eligible to Stay After Govt Approves New Migration Bill

The bill, which has been approved by the country’s federal government on Wednesday, July 6, foresees permitting to stay legally in the country those who have lived in Germany for more than five years and those who are well integrated and have sufficient knowledge of the German language.

According to the Federal Minister of the Interior and Homeland, Nancy Faeser, who presented the bill to the government, the changes foreseen in migration to Germany would create a new perspective and grant more opportunities to people who are integrated into the German society, AtoZSerwisPlus.de reports.

“We are also ending the bureaucracy and insecurity for people who have already become part of our society. Those who commit criminal offences or stubbornly refuse to provide information about their identity are excluded from the chance of residence,” the Minister said.

She also pointed out that Germany needs to attract more skilled workers from third countries, and in order to lure such people into the country, the requirement for German language knowledge should be removed for the family member of these workers.

Commenting on the changes that the bill foresees for asylum seekers coming to Germany, the Minister said that if the bill is approved by the German parliament and the cantons, in the future, all asylum seekers will have access to integration courses, regardless of their prospect of staying.

As per criminals who wish to stay in Germany, she notes that the same will be expelled more quickly, and it will be easier for the authorities to withdraw their residence rights.

The newly approved bill by the government, which now has to go through two more filters and gain the support of the German parliament Bundestag, and of the German cantons, Bundesarat, includes the following changes:

• Granting residence permits to those who have lived in the country for more than five years and have not been involved in any criminal activity.
• Granting residence rights after three years in Germany to people aged 27 and younger who are well integrated into the country.
• Removing the obligation to learn German in order to join a family member who is a skilled worker in Germany.
• Granting access to integration courses for all asylum seekers regardless of their plans to remain in Germany or leave.
• Repatriating people who have committed criminal offences and making the procedures easier to strip these people of their residence rights.