Dear friends, the plans for a new asylum law the conservative parties are pushing forward is something that should be known (also) by refugees that live here in Germany. Therefore, we made a summary in English. Below you can find an arabic translation as a pdf-file.
* This is a short summary on the most important aspects of the draft of the new german asylum reform. The draft was published on 17th of September. The summary is taken from a statement of the German NGO PRO ASYL (in German): Abschottung, Abschreckung und Obdachlosigkeit werden zum Programm (Policy of deterrence, isolation and homelessness)
The draft envisages deep cuts regarding residence, asylum and social rights. If it becomes effective it will mean in example:
- All the refugees that are affected by the Dublin-III-regulation, i.e. another memberstate is in chargefor their asylum process, will not recieve any social welfare according to the Asylbewerberleistungsgesetz (asylum seekers´ welfare law). They will receive nothing more than a return ticket to the state in charge and supplies for the journey. They will get no more medical treatment, no accomodation, cash money etc…* (*this point seems to become a little ‚bit less harsh according to the latest news…)
- The german government is inventing a new residence status, the „certificate on the executable obligation to leave“. If a refugee is considered to prevent his or her deportation actively, he or she looses work permit, vocational training position and even social welfare. This new regulation would affect refugees who now have a so called „Duldung“ (exceptional leave to remain). Practically, this would impede all benefits of the „Bleiberechtsregelung“ (regulation for residence) that recently entered into force. The same thing will happen if authorities (Ausländerbehörde) believe that the refugee has come to Germany because of its social system, if the asylum application has been rejected „offensichtlich unbegründet“ (obviously without cause), or if someone is a citizen of a „save country of origen“.
- In contrast to its supposed intention to accelerate the asylum proceedure, the draft legalises the bad practise of the Bundesamt (Federal Office) to give asylum seekers the so called „BÜMA“ (certificate about the registration as asylum seekers). As a result, people will have to wait even longer with the BÜMA until they can finally apply for asylum.
- The draft also envisages that the border police itselve could check which member country is in charge of the asylum procedure. This targets towards quick imprisonment and Dublin-deportations without any legal remedies.
- Asylum seekers should be obliged to stay in a reception center für six months (now it is three months maximum). During this time period, refugees receive only coupons or food packages instead of cash money. People from so called saved countries can be concentrated in this camps until they are deported.
- They want to re-introduce the Residenzpflicht (obligation not to leave the district) which had just been nearly abolished.
- They want to expand the posibility to arrest asylum seekers directly at the airport when they enter Germany by plane .
- They want to add Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro to the list of so called save countries.
- The authorities (Ausländerbehörde) may not announce a deportation anymore, even if a person lives here with a Duldung, this means without a legal residence permit for years.
- Even if a person receives the refugee status and a residence permit, a formal obligation to asume all the costs remains effective.That means that if any obligation has been signed by a family member or an institution, this person or institution will have to pay for ever and ever (up to now, the obligation ends with the recognition as refugee.)
We want to organize against these plans. Some friends want to prepare a common statement and we want to discuss this on Thursday after the Deutschkurs in Cafe Ada (around 4:30 p.m.). You’re very welcome to take part in making a statement we want to publish before October 3rd.
