Germany to Accept Fewer Asylees
Angela Merkel, the chancellor of Germany, announced new legislation on October 15 which would speed up the deportation process for migrants who have been denied asylum in Germany. Chancellor Merkel, who has always advocated for an open-door policy for asylum seekers, has recently experienced popular backlash and a drop in approval ratings following several violent incidents involving migrants.
Originally, the German people were largely in favor of accepting migrants, especially Syrian refugees. In 2015, Germany had over 400,000 asylum applications from migrants, far more than any other European country. However, due to ongoing altercations, anti-immigrant sentiments are on the rise.
On New Year's Eve of 2015, eighty women in Cologne reported sexual assaults from foreign men. In July, a 17-year-old Afghan refugee attacked train passengers with a knife and axe, critically injuring two. Also in July, a Syrian refugee who had been denied asylum killed himself and injured fifteen people at a Music Festival in Ansbach Germany. These incidents, along with other random attacks perpetrated by refugees and migrants have drastically shifted the opinion of the German electorate from pro-immigration to predominantly anti-immigration.
The new legislation that the German government is proposing would push for more aggressive deportation of refugees who have not been granted asylum. Only about one-third of asylum applications are accepted, yet in the last few years most refugees who were rejected remained in Germany in temporary housing. To slow the influx, Germany is cracking down on economic migrants from Africa as Syrian refugees have been deemed to be at higher risk and in greater need. In a recent three-day trip to Africa, Merkel announced that Germany will be decreasing the acceptance of economic migrants. However, she emphasized Germany’s concern for the continent, saying, “I think we will need to take a vastly greater interest in the destiny of Africa.”
Most migrants arrive from North Africa and the Middle East by traveling through the outer countries of the European Union. They then make their way to Germany aided by freedom of movement within the Schengen Zone. The voters in most European countries were never enthusiastic about welcoming the migrants. However, Germany, headed by Merkel, took the lead in trying to respond generously and humanely, originally committing to receive a million refugees. It is, therefore, significant that even the German welcome mat is wearing thin in the face of popular skepticism. Ordinary Europeans, especially those outside of Germany, are dealing with relatively high unemployment and restricted government finances, so they are not inclined to welcome disadvantaged people onto public welfare rolls. The passing of the new legislation will now help Germany minimize its spending on migrant-related causes. The German Finance Ministry expects to spend €77.6 billion over the next four years feeding and aiding refugees, and taxpayers are footing the bill.