Germany’s new federal government is pushing ahead with its plan to suspend family reunification rights for individuals with subsidiary protection for a period of two years. The proposal is spearheaded by Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU).
Subsidiary protection is granted to individuals who do not qualify as refugees but would face a real risk of serious harm—such as torture, inhumane treatment, or threats due to indiscriminate violence in armed conflict—if returned to their home country. Germany currently hosts approximately 351,400 individuals who have been granted subsidiary protection, and up to 1,000 of their family members have been allowed entry into the country every month since 2018.
Dobrindt is set to present the draft bills to the cabinet on Wednesday, May 28th. Under the proposed changes, family members of people holding subsidiary protection who are currently living abroad would not be allowed to join them in Germany for at least two years.
“We want to send a strong signal that migration policy in Germany has changed,” Dobrindt said on Monday. He emphasized that the goal of the suspension is to reduce what he described as “pull factors” that encourage migration to Germany.
If approved by the cabinet, the legislation would still require ratification by both the Bundestag and the Bundesrat. Dobrindt reportedly aims to have the law passed before the summer recess begins on July 11th.
However, the suspension of family reunification for subsidiary protection holders has drawn widespread criticism from religious leaders and pro-immigration left-wing groups.
