Katrin Hirseland

Managing Migration and Return inGermanyPresentation for the BSPC Working Group on Migrationand Integration13 January 2020Katrin Hirseland, Head of ResearchForschungManaging Migration and Return in Germany• Federal Office for Migration and Refugees• Managing migration• Migration data 2018• Asylum applications and decisions• Court cases• Border controls and registration• Promoting return: Forced return and voluntary return: currentdevelopments and challenges• Return of unaccompanied minorsKatrin Hirseland | BSPC WG MI | 13.01.2020 | 2Federal Office for Migration and Refugees: Tasks Asylum procedure and Dublin procedure Resettlement and humanitarian reception Migration Integration (Voluntary) return International tasks Security issues Digitization ResearchKatrin Hirseland | BSPC WG MI | 13.01.2020 3Managing Migration in Germany2005: Management approach to migration / new legal basis:Residence Act - steering and limiting immigration, regulating thestay and integrationSet of migration laws passed in June 2019:• Promoting return of migrants without legal status• Skilled Immigration Act• Regulations for labor market integration of asylum seekersMigration Management governed by EU law and policies:Migration between member states Migration between member statesof the European Union and non-membersFreedom of movement Common European Asylum SystemRules of the Schengen Area External Border Protection byFrontexKatrin Hirseland | BSPC WG MI | 13.01.2020 | 4Migration Data 2018 at a glance:Main immigrant groupsKatrin Hirseland | BSPC WG MI | 13.01.2020 5Migration Data 2018 at a glance:Main countries of originCountries of immigrantsOrigin1 Romania 238.8242 Poland 176.4513 Bulgaria 81.7934 Italia 64.8525 Croatia 51.4506 Turkey 47.449Katrin Hirseland | BSPC WG MI | 13.01.2020 6Asylum Applications in Germany, 1953 - 2019Katrin Hirseland | BSPC WG MI | 13.01.2020 7Asylum applications 2019Asylum applications 166.000- First instance 142.509- Second instance 23.429Decisions 184.000- Refugee status 45.000- Subsidiary protection 19.000- Removal ban 6.000- Rejection 54.000Protection ratio 38%Soruce: BAMFKatrin Hirseland | BSPC WG MI | 13.01.2020 8Asylum decisions at the courts: Impact of negativedecisions and appealsCourt decisions onYear In favor of plaintiff percentageasylum cases1. Half 2019 80.301 11.647 14,5%2018 173.416 29.703 17,1%2017 147.616 32.522 22,0%Source: BAMFNumber of court cases depends on:• number of negative asylum decisions by Federal Office for Migrationand Refugees• number of asylum decisions on subsidiary protection• Trend: less court decisions in favor of plaintiffKatrin Hirseland | BSPC WG MI | 13.01.2020 9Managing Migration in Germany: Border controlsand registration procedures• Since 2015 temporary border controls• Legal basis: Schengen Border CodeArt. 25 (threat to public security)Art. 29 (exceptional circumstances)• Purpose of border controls:Prevention of illegal entriesReception and early registration of asylum seekersNo intention of rejecting asylum seekers• Integrated refugee management: Systematic registration ofasylum seekers upon first contact with authorities andguidance through the asylum system.Katrin Hirseland | BSPC WG MI | 13.01.2020 10Managing Migration in Germany: PromotingReturn• Return policy critical for a credible asylum system• Approaches: voluntary return and forced removals• Voluntary return mostly at national level• Forced removals mostly at state level, but: growingcooperation between national and state-levelLegal obligation to leave Germany in 2019:• 250.000: legal obligation to leave• 201.000: legal obligation suspended (e.g. no documents)• 48.000: legal obligation in force Challenge: Return numbers do not match the number oflegal obligations to leaveKatrin Hirseland | BSPC WG MI | 13.01.2020 11Addressing the Return Challenge in GermanyForced Removals From Germany 2014 - 201830.00025.37523.966 23.61725.00020.88820.00015.00010.88410.0005.00002014 2015 2016 2017 2018Katrin Hirseland | BSPC WG MI | 13.01.2020 12Addressing the Return Challenge in Germany:Forced RemovalsLegal changes („Geordnete Rückkehr Gesetz“):• Enhanced detention• Residence in reception center until asylum decision• Possibility of cuts in social assistance• In case of non cooperation downgrade in legal statusOrganisational changes: Joint Center for Return Assistance• facilitates operational coordination between federal and stateauthorities on voluntary and enforced return issues.• representatives of the Federal Ministry of the Interior, theFederal Office for Migration and Refugees, the Federal Policeand the authorities of the 16 federal states.Katrin Hirseland | BSPC WG MI | 13.01.2020 13Addressing the Return Challenge in Germany:Assisted Return Programs• Managed by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees,implemented mainly by the International Organization forMigration (IOM).• Suport for travelling, medical assistance, accomodation, etc• Major programs in Germany:REAG/ GARP: „Reintegration and Emigration Programme for AsylumSeekers in Germany/Government Assisted Repatriation Programme”“Starthilfe Plus”: Additional reintegration aid provided after returnERRIN: European Return and Reintegration Network (ERRIN) consistsof 15 EU Member States and provides support in 40 countries.URA – Kosovo: Return Program in cooperation with KosovoKatrin Hirseland | BSPC WG MI | 13.01.2020 14Addressing the return challenge in GermanyAssisted Return (REAG/ GARP)60.00054.06950.00037.22040.00029.58730.00020.000 15.96213.63610.00002014 2015 2016 2017 2018• Aplications have declined• However: Assisted return continues to be importantKatrin Hirseland | BSPC WG MI | 13.01.2020 15Promoting Voluntary Return – assessing itsimpact: Return Motives50% 46%42%45%40%35%28%30%25%18%20%15%9%10%4%5%0%Uncertaint No sense of other reasons Financial improved social tiesresidence home return situationprospects assistanceResult: financial return assistance often not main return motive,but strong incentive for those who already think about returning.Katrin Hirseland | BSPC WG MI | 13.01.2020 16Addressing the return challenge in Germany:Unaccompanied MinorsUnaccompanied Minors: vulnerable group with special needs!Forced removal• Legally possible, but states grant removal suspension• Practical difficulty: establishing contact with custodian• No removals since 2015 (but: refusal of entry/ Dublin transfers)Voluntary return• Possible with guardian‘s consent• UM may benefit from assisted return programmes• Numbers are very lowReturn is enforced only once minors reach adulthood.Katrin Hirseland | BSPC WG MI | 13.01.2020 17Katrin Hirseland, Head of ResearchFederal Office for Migration and RefugeesFrankenstraße 21090461 NürnbergGermany18