German Counties Call for Suspension of War Refugee Admissions
The Deutscher Landkreistag urges a halt to the intake of refugees from war and crisis zones amid rising migration challenges.
The Deutscher Landkreistag (DLT), representing nearly 300 counties in Germany, has called for an immediate halt to the admission of refugees from war-torn regions.
DLT President Achim Brötel, a member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), expressed concerns regarding the current migration situation and suggested that political leaders in Berlin need to recognize the limits of Germany's capacity to accept and integrate refugees.
Brötel noted, "We ultimately question whether we need to take in civil war refugees at all or if it would be better for these individuals to remain within neighboring areas of the crisis regions."
Brötel highlighted the significant increase in migration since 2015, citing that around four million more people have moved to Germany over the past decade.
He emphasized that conditions have changed significantly, stating that while voluntary humanitarian aid was once abundant, the mounting issues in schools and the labor market make the situation untenable.
He called for a prompt response from the incoming German government to ensure equitable distribution of refugees within the European Union.
The DLT President urged the ruling parties, particularly the CDU and the Social Democrats (SPD), to implement the migration reform promised by Friedrich Merz without delay.
He warned that failure to regain control over immigration could lead to increased support for anti-democratic parties, such as the Alternative for Germany (AfD).
Brötel pressed for stringent measures, including the possibility of turning away asylum seekers at the borders.
Additionally, he recommended reducing benefits for individuals whose asylum applications have been denied, arguing that the continuation of social support encourages individuals to remain in Germany despite their status.
"In other EU countries, rejected asylum seekers see their financial aid drastically cut, which explains why many choose to come here," he stated.
Tensions regarding refugee policy have intensified in Germany amidst coalition discussions between the CDU, CSU, and SPD.
As a result, Germany has temporarily suspended its participation in a United Nations resettlement program aimed at relocating particularly vulnerable refugees.
The Interior Ministry has confirmed that no new admissions will be made pending the resolution of ongoing coalition negotiations.
Germany had previously committed to receiving 13,100 refugees through this program over 2024 and 2025, but only a fraction of these slots have been filled to date.
Current regulations allow for exceptions only for cases already in advanced stages of processing, indicating a significant shift in Germany's approach to refugee admissions.
DLT President Achim Brötel, a member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), expressed concerns regarding the current migration situation and suggested that political leaders in Berlin need to recognize the limits of Germany's capacity to accept and integrate refugees.
Brötel noted, "We ultimately question whether we need to take in civil war refugees at all or if it would be better for these individuals to remain within neighboring areas of the crisis regions."
Brötel highlighted the significant increase in migration since 2015, citing that around four million more people have moved to Germany over the past decade.
He emphasized that conditions have changed significantly, stating that while voluntary humanitarian aid was once abundant, the mounting issues in schools and the labor market make the situation untenable.
He called for a prompt response from the incoming German government to ensure equitable distribution of refugees within the European Union.
The DLT President urged the ruling parties, particularly the CDU and the Social Democrats (SPD), to implement the migration reform promised by Friedrich Merz without delay.
He warned that failure to regain control over immigration could lead to increased support for anti-democratic parties, such as the Alternative for Germany (AfD).
Brötel pressed for stringent measures, including the possibility of turning away asylum seekers at the borders.
Additionally, he recommended reducing benefits for individuals whose asylum applications have been denied, arguing that the continuation of social support encourages individuals to remain in Germany despite their status.
"In other EU countries, rejected asylum seekers see their financial aid drastically cut, which explains why many choose to come here," he stated.
Tensions regarding refugee policy have intensified in Germany amidst coalition discussions between the CDU, CSU, and SPD.
As a result, Germany has temporarily suspended its participation in a United Nations resettlement program aimed at relocating particularly vulnerable refugees.
The Interior Ministry has confirmed that no new admissions will be made pending the resolution of ongoing coalition negotiations.
Germany had previously committed to receiving 13,100 refugees through this program over 2024 and 2025, but only a fraction of these slots have been filled to date.
Current regulations allow for exceptions only for cases already in advanced stages of processing, indicating a significant shift in Germany's approach to refugee admissions.
Translation:
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