In an interview with the Rheinische Post, German Federal Minister of the Interior, Nancy Faeser, warned against dehumanizing debates in the election campaign and called for more respect for well-integrated migrants.
Faeser emphasized the importance of the current migration report, which provides a comprehensive, scientific overview of migration to Germany. “Almost 25 million people in Germany have a migration background, with parents or themselves having immigrated. That’s almost 30 percent of our population” she said. “These people are already a natural part of our society and are holding our country together in many areas, such as in hospitals and care facilities, in businesses and the industry. What these people achieve deserves more respect” Faeser added.
The minister criticized the Union’s approach to discussing the revocation of German citizenship, saying it would lead to the perception of second-class citizens. “This is a discussion that takes place on the backs of people who have worked hard to build a life in Germany” Faeser said. “In the global competition for skilled workers, we need the opposite: good prospects and security in Germany. Skilled workers only come if they can fully participate and do not fear exclusion” she added.
Faeser also criticized the Alternative for Germany (AfD) for their “Remigration” concept, saying it would lead to mass deportation and would harm Germany’s standing, costing jobs. “The AfD, by using the term ‘Remigration,’ shows not only its disregard for human life but also how much it damages the German location and costs jobs” she said.
The minister highlighted the facts, stating that the number of irregular migration to Germany had decreased significantly, with 111,000 fewer asylum applications in the last year, a 34% reduction. At the same time, Germany is taking in more refugees, with the numbers increasing by 20%, according to Faeser.
Faeser criticized the Union for ignoring the facts and the measures taken to address migration, instead engaging in a populist competition with the AfD. “The Union is doing itself no favor by ignoring these facts and the many measures taken and engaging in a populist competition with the AfD, as it only benefits the AfD” she said.
According to the 2023 migration report, a total of 1,932,509 people moved to Germany in 2023, and 1,269,545 left the country, resulting in a net migration of 662,964 people, a 54.7% reduction from the previous year, mainly due to the lower number of Ukrainian refugees, with only around 276,000 people arriving from Ukraine in 2023 compared to over 1.1 million in the previous year.