The new German government has agreed to stop family members of refugees with subsidiary protection status from moving to Germany. The controversial move will particularly affect Syrian families.
There are currently around 351,400 people with subsidiary protection status living in Germany, the majority from Syria. They receive a residence permit, it was initially for one year, in 2024 this initial period was extended to three years.
They have the right to live and work in Germany and access social benefits. But while asylum-seekers and recognized refugees have the right to reunification with spouses and children under the age of 18 under German and EU law, those with subsidiary protection status do not.
Now, the new coalition government of the conservative Christian Democrats (CDU), its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU) and the center-left Social Democrats (SPD) plan to suspend family reunification for those with subsidiary protection status for at least the next two years.
Yes, the family reunification for people with this status has been a controversial issue in Germany for years. While some people end up with a refugee status similar to other countries, many others are recognised as “with subsidiary protection status” or even plainly have their application rejected altogether. Critics have long since advocated for an end to family reunification for people without full refugee status. Some have even proposed cutting social payments to non refugees like several other EU countries do. For now it’s only this somewhat limited measure, which is still controversial among the left. My personal prediction is that with far right political pressure increasing the current centre government in Germany will continue to develop its refugee and asylum policy more in the direction of Denmark and less in the direction of Merkel.