When addressing immigration policies, Chancellor Olaf Scholz has already set the tone for the new year. In a December interview with the news magazine Der Spiegel, he expressed support for “large-scale” deportations of rejected asylum applicants.

Government figures for the first half of 2023 indicate that 7,861 individuals were deported. Aiming to further enhance repatriation efforts, a reform known as the Repatriation Improvement Act has been introduced. Changes include discontinuing the advance announcement of deportations, extending asylum detention to 28 days, and granting police extended powers to search for and access property, including phones, of those ordered to leave.

To expedite the deportation of smugglers and suspected criminals, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser emphasized the need to act more consistently and swiftly against “dangerous individuals.”

Germany is currently in negotiations with various countries, including Georgia, Moldova, Kenya, Colombia, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan, to establish migration agreements. While these agreements may not significantly impact asylum-seekers from Syria, Afghanistan, and Turkey, the overarching goal is to designate more countries as “safe countries of origin,” allowing Germany to return individuals to those places.

The potential revival of the European Union’s deal with Turkey, supported by Germany, could also facilitate the deportation of individuals to Turkey.

Efforts are underway to streamline the asylum application process, with proposed changes aiming to reduce the processing time from over two years to between three to six months. As part of cost-cutting measures, individuals undergoing the asylum procedure are expected to receive fewer benefits, with welfare payments accessible only after three years and deductions for food costs for those living in state housing.

In a bid to prevent money transfers to relatives in the country of origin, several German cities and states, including Hannover, Thuringia, Hamburg, and Bavaria, are considering transitioning to a card-based system for benefits.

While conditions for asylum-seekers may become more challenging, recent reforms seek to make Germany more attractive for skilled labor. A new points system, based on language proficiency and professional experience, is set to grant eligible immigrants a one-year visa, allowing them to search for employment. The income requirement has been lowered, and bringing along more family members will be easier.

The EU Blue Card is slated to expand to cover sectors facing labor shortages, such as health care and education. Starting in March, foreigners from outside the EU can work in Germany while their qualifications are being approved, with the option to stay up to three years, including with dependents, as long as they can prove self-sufficiency.

Additionally, the special immigration quota for individuals from Western Balkan countries is expected to double to 50,000 people in June.