On the occasion of the inauguration of the new federal government, we, as part of a broad civil society alliance, demand a responsible migration and asylum policy and a new tone in the debate about immigration.
The election campaign was marked by a heated atmosphere, which was mainly directed against refugees and immigrants. This has also been reflected in the coalition agreement. This must finally come to an end. The exclusion of certain groups harms social cohesion and only benefits the enemies of a free democracy.
Immigrants and refugees are an integral part of our society – they belong to Germany. It is not refugees and immigrants who divide society, but a policy that has not consistently addressed the structural and social problems for too long. Refugees alone are blamed for the high burden on municipalities and certain professional groups in connection with migration, instead of addressing the actual social, political, and financial causes of this burden.
What is needed now are, above all, good concepts for a functioning asylum, reception, and integration policy that protects and strengthens openness and diversity. These include:
The protection of individual rights, especially the right to asylum, and thus refraining from border rejections,
The preservation of legal access routes, such as resettlement and reception programs, and especially family reunification,
Measures for the successful integration of all, such as reliable and sufficient investments in integration and reception structures, e.g., the permanent extension of the “Chancen-Aufenthaltsrecht” (Opportunities Residence Law) and the reduction of barriers for the employment of refugees.
The appeal to the new federal government for a responsible migration policy was initiated by the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB), PRO ASYL, and the Paritätischer Gesamtverband and has been signed by a total of 293 organizations and associations.
