The Friends of Refugee Solidarity welcomes some of the progress made in the coalition agreement of the traffic light coalition of the new government and calls for the positive sides of the decisions to be implemented quickly.
This change in refugee and asylum policy in Germany compared to the extremely reactionary Seehofer policy is a response to demands from many refugee organizations and a huge success of the work of the Friends of Refugee Solidarity since its foundation, starting with the raid in Ellwangen, where we have always stood for equality fought in this country. Indeed, some things seem to be going in the right direction today. Most recently, the Southern Regional Group of the Circle of Friends approached the negotiating partners with an urgent manifesto and catalog of demands – apparently with success.
But we shouldn't have too many illusions either, because so far everything is only on paper. Implementation in various federal states is by no means certain.
The advantages of this coalition agreement include the following points:
- Facilitation of family reunification
Many asylum seekers always had the problem of bringing their family members to Germany after receiving their residence permit. With the announced new decision, this possibility would be given to you. However, it must be said here that it is not yet certain how such a process will be carried out.
- Accelerating the admission of refugees to Germany
The idea is very clearly justified. When we find that the new government is preparing to govern in a social way, we use it as a Friends of Refugee Solidarity this opportunity to ask again:
Refugees from KaraTepe, Poland/Belarus borders and imprisoned refugees in Libya must now be able to enjoy this new decision because there is an extreme emergency there - these are consequences of an inhumane policy.
- The chance to get a chance to stay based on a point system
It is both an advantage and a disadvantage that this point was decided in this way.
As an advantage, asylum seekers who have been tolerated for many years will have a chance of a right to stay. Refugees who have been living in Germany for years without a residence permit can look forward to this new decision - if it is implemented correctly. That would also be a good response to Merkel's policy ("we can do it" - it hasn't been done so far!) and would give Seehofer a slap in the face.
It also serves the livelihood security many refugees who pay tax money, work and are still threatened with deportation - so that they can finally get a secure status.
But what about those who cannot work?
- Abolition of the ban on work, ban on integration
We formulated these demands clearly in our resolution of June 2020.
Many refugees are unemployed in Germany due to the rejection of their asylum applications and at the same time cannot take part in integration programs or German courses. The coalition agreement states:" We will abolish the ban on working for those already living in Germany”.
The point also supports the recognition of the school qualifications of refugees from their countries in Germany to make it easier for them to enter the labor market quickly.
The guest workers who have been living in Germany for many years will see their civil rights recognized in the future. And there will be an admission program for refugees from Afghanistan.
Contrary to these positive points, the contract also contains enormous negative points: according to the announcement of a repatriation offensive to the home countries. This means that, among other things, the deportation of refugees who are in custody pending deportation will be accelerated. It's a scandal because some refugees who are in detention centers and are about to be deported are not criminals or threats.
Many of their asylum applications have not been properly dealt with – that is why many of them are there. An example of improper treatment is the case of Alassa Mfouapon, whose application for asylum was rejected without justification. Without the success of solidarity, he would have been deported long ago!
Friends of Refugee Solidarity in SI, Regional Group South – www.freunde-fluechtlingssolidaritaet.org
Donations via: "Solidarity International eV", IBAN: DE86 5019 0000 6100 8005 84, keyword: "Refugee Solidarity"
change.org/alassa and change.org/evacuation
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