The federal parliament approved the controversial Geas reform, receiving the necessary majorities on Friday. The package introduces new rules for asylum procedures at EU external borders, how asylum seekers are recorded, and limits on their freedom of movement. Migrants may be sent to third countries, and asylum procedures can be transferred there. The changes also affect the Dublin system, which determines which member state is responsible for processing an asylum claim, and establish a new “solidarity mechanism” that requires all EU countries to contribute proportionally to refugee intake.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) announced that Germany, together with EU partners, will set up “Return Hubs” outside the EU. These centers are intended to deport asylum seekers who have not been granted protection status directly from the facilities to third‑country destinations. Dobrindt is also planning secondary migration centers where asylum seekers who already received status in another EU country, or whose case falls under Dublin rules, would be required to stay.
Under the new legislation asylum seekers will gain faster access to the labour market: after only three months of residence they may begin working, provided they have a prospect of staying in Germany. Applicants originating from safe countries and those whose processing is controlled by Dublin rules are excluded from this provision.
The reform has faced sharp criticism from the Greens, the Left, and several church bodies. They warn that the new centres could effectively act as prisons, especially for families with children. According to the proposal, the stay obligation for families would be capped at a maximum of six months.