Anyone who has lived in Germany for at least five years, is well integrated and has only been tolerated so far can hope for a regular residence permit. Federal Interior Minister Faeser wants to reform the right of residence. At the same time, deportations should be made easier.

Foreigners who have been living in Germany for more than five years and who are well integrated should in future be given a regular right of residence. This was announced by Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser in Berlin, thereby confirming a corresponding “Spiegel” report. This affects people who have only been tolerated so far. The change is part of a migration package that the SPD, Greens and FDP coalition partners had agreed on. The draft law should be available before the summer break. According to “Spiegel”, more than 100,000 people have been living in Germany for five years or longer with a Duldung.

In addition to the right to stay for those who have been tolerated, “first improvements in the immigration of skilled workers should be made” and regulations for accelerated deportations of people without a right to stay. According to “Spiegel”, the departure of criminals and threats should be “consequently carried out”.

In the case of chances of residence, those affected should be given a one-year residence permit on a trial basis, the “Spiegel” reported, citing the draft law. If they could prove during this time that they have mastered the German language and can secure their livelihood, they would be given a long-term right to stay. Criminals should remain excluded from this option, as should men and women who gave false information about their identity and thus prevented their deportation.

The Union immediately criticized Faeser’s initiative: This creates additional incentives for illegal migration to Germany in a “crisis-ridden time,” said Alexander Throm, the domestic spokesman for the Union faction, the “Spiegel”. Faeser’s ideas represent “a departure from the principle of ordering, controlling and limiting migration,” Throm warned: “Instead of campaigning for a common line on the migration issue at European level, Germany is taking a special path into isolation with the project. “