Strict migration and asylum rules: What is the government demanding?
Shortly after the new federal government consisting of the CDU/CSU and SPD took office at the beginning of May 2025, the first steps were taken to implement the asylum goals of the coalition agreement. These included stricter border controls and increased rejections of asylum seekers at Germany's borders.
Several legislative proposals were introduced in the Bundestag, including:
- the end of Naturalization after three years for well-integrated migrants,
- the suspension of family reunification for beneficiaries of subsidiary protection for two years,
- faster classification of safe countries of origin and
- the inclusion of the objective of "limiting migration" in the Residence Act.
On Friday, the Bundestag debated the law on family reunification for the first time.
How do the parties position themselves on the abolition of family reunification?
The opinions of the parties on this law differed considerably.
CDU/CSU:
The CDU/CSU spoke out unanimously in favor of the draft law. Interior Minister Dobrindt (CSU) argued that the fight against illegal migration required many measures - including the temporary suspension of family reunification.
Although Germany is a country that is open to the world, the limits of integration have been reached in many cities. Something had to be done about this. Dobrindt also spoke out once again in favor of further reducing the so-called pull factors (i.e. incentives for migration to Germany). He called the strict border controls a success.
The Left and the Greens:
Both parties strongly oppose the law. They see it as an attack on fundamental human rights. During the debate, they emphasized that the suspension of family reunification tears families apart, hinders integration and causes human suffering. People from Syria are particularly affected.
For both the Greens and the Left, the right to family life is a core value enshrined in the German constitution and EU law. They criticized the fact that the law blocks legal routes and people are forced to choose dangerous, illegal routes. Instead of restrictions, they are calling for more humanity, clear rules and simplified family reunification.
AfD:
The AfD has clearly positioned itself against family reunification - and in favor of the law. However, the new law does not go far enough for the party. They demand that all asylum seekers without grounds for asylum be turned away at the border and that family reunification be completely abolished for all migrants.
According to the AfD, Syrian refugees in particular no longer have grounds for protection, as the situation in their home country has stabilized since the fall of Assad. They demand that relatives already living here should also be sent back. From the AfD's point of view, the government's legislative proposals are "not an actual turnaround in migration", but a pure "deceptive package".
SPD:
The SPD was only very cautiously in favor of the law. On the one hand, they agreed with the CDU/CSU that Germany needed more firm regulations in migration and asylum policy. On the other hand, humanity should not be forgotten, said the SPD MPs.
The party pointed out that many people had fled war and violence and some had been separated from their families for years. However, political cooperation requires the will to compromise. It is important to the SPD that hardship cases are well regulated and that people in particular need of protection are not turned away. The SPD emphasizes that it is about real people - not just numbers or politics.
When will the new law come into force?
It is currently not possible to predict when and in what form the law on family reunification will come into force.
In the German Bundestag, a bill is usually passed by a simple majority of the votes cast. This means that more yes votes than no votes of the MPs present are needed to pass a law.
In concrete terms, this means:
- At least half of the members of parliament must be present ( quorum).
- Of these MPs present, more must vote in favor of the bill than against it.
Our conclusion
There is disagreement in the Bundestag. During the debate on Friday (06.06.2025), both Die Linke and the Greens announced that they would not vote for the law to suspend family reunification.
The Left Party currently has 64 seats in the Bundestag, the Greens 85 seats.
It can be assumed that both the CDU/CSU (208 seats) and the AfD (151 seats) will vote in favor of the motion.
Things remain exciting for the SPD (120 seats). The party is in government together with the CDU/CSU. Nevertheless, SPD representatives were very hesitant to speak out in favor of the law during the debate.
