Germany's special family reunification program for Syrians, Afghans and Iraqis SCRAPPED

By lauraharris // 2025-08-03

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Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) has ended Berlin's special state-level admission program for Syrians, Afghans and Iraqis, blocking future family reunification under the scheme, even for those willing to cover costs privately.
In a letter to Berlin officials, Dobrindt confirmed the Federal Ministry of the Interior will no longer approve new or extended state-level humanitarian programs, citing national policy and cost concerns.
Berlin Finance Senator Stefan Evers (CDU) warned that relatives' financial guarantees are insufficient long term, as commitments expire after five years and could leave the state responsible for expenses.
Tensions have risen across Germany as family reunification visas have surpassed one million since 2015, prompting renewed AfD demands to halt the practice entirely due to pressure on welfare and housing systems.
In June, the Bundestag suspended family reunification rights for migrants with subsidiary protection status for two years. Dobrindt welcomed the move as a major policy shift, while the AfD criticized it as symbolic and ineffective.

Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) has announced the end of a special state-level admission program for Syrians, Afghans and Iraqis, effectively blocking any future family reunification under the scheme unless costs are privately covered, but even that option now faces restrictions. In a letter addressed to Berlin's Finance Senator Stefan Evers (CDU), Dobrindt wrote that the Federal Ministry of the Interior will no longer approve a new or extended state-level humanitarian admission program, which has allowed certain groups to sponsor close relatives. (Related: Germany pledges $326 million in humanitarian aid for Syria.) The scheme, originally introduced by a Red-Green coalition and later expanded, permitted relatives to come to Berlin if sponsors could guarantee coverage of housing, health and long-term care costs. Dobrindt emphasized federal opposition to further admissions under these programs. In turn, Evers notified Berlin's Interior Senator Iris Spranger (SPD) of the federal decision, citing budgetary and policy concerns. He stressed the need to limit costs related to the state-level refugee admission programs, arguing that relying on relatives to cover insurance contributions does not adequately account for the broader financial burden on the city. He also pointed out that there is insufficient data to reliably assess the long-term budgetary impact, especially after five years, when relatives' financial commitments expire and the state would be left to cover expenses. Regardless of these financial concerns, Evers made it clear that any extension of the program requires federal approval, which, following Dobrindt's recent decision, is now off the table.

Family reunification program sparks debate as over one million visas issued since 2015

The debate over family reunification in Germany has reached new heights after it was revealed that the number of family reunification visas issued since 2015 has officially surpassed one million. The milestone, reached in December, has reignited political tensions as the country grapples with rising welfare costs and pressure on public infrastructure. For instance, the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has renewed calls for a complete halt to family reunification, with party member Martin Hess claiming many new arrivals are likely to "immigrate directly into our social systems." Recent government data shows nearly half of the €17.68 billion ($20.44 billion) in housing support allocated in 2024 has gone to non-Germans. At the same time, welfare spending reached an all-time high of €46.7 billion ($54 billion) last year, a 10 percent increase over 2023, according to figures from the Federal Employment Agency. Migrants made up 62.6 percent of all welfare recipients, and the number jumped to 71.3 percent among those aged 15 to 25, figures cited by Remix News show. To address growing public concern, the Bundestag in June suspended family reunification rights for migrants with "subsidiary protection" status – a group that includes around 380,000 people, most of them Syrians. The suspension will last for two years. The AfD dismissed it as insufficient. Party spokesman Christian Wirth called the legislation "a drop in the ocean," and co-leader Alice Weidel described it as "a smokescreen," claiming that 90 percent of so-called refugees already in Germany will still be able to bring relatives through other legal pathways. But Dobrindt praised the measure, saying it would help ease the strain on housing, schools and welfare systems, and send a signal to human traffickers that Germany is no longer an automatic gateway for entire families. Head over to Migrants.news for similar stories. Watch Paul Davis talking about Islamic terrorists saying "We love Israel" after taking out the Assad regime in Syria.

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Family reunification program sparks debate as over one million visas issued since 2015

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