German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has hinted that Syrian refugees struggling to integrate into Western society could lose their protection status. Her remarks, coming nearly a month after the overthrow of former Syrian President Bashar Assad, align with ongoing political debates about immigration as Germany gears up for elections.
In a Sunday interview with the Funke Media Group, Faeser outlined plans to reassess the residency rights of Syrians who fail to meet specific criteria, such as being employed or enrolled in training programs. She stressed, “The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) will review and revoke protection grants if people no longer need this protection in Germany because the situation in Syria has stabilized.” Faeser added, “This will then apply to those who do not have a right of residence for other reasons such as work or training and who do not return to Syria voluntarily.”
Faeser reassured that well-integrated Syrians who have embraced German society—through work, education, and language proficiency—will be allowed to remain. Meanwhile, Syrians wishing to return home voluntarily would be supported, and deportations for criminals or extremists could resume as conditions improve in Syria.
Her comments follow Germany’s recent decision to temporarily halt new asylum applications from Syrians, announced shortly after rebel groups ousted Assad.
Migration policy is a hot-button issue in Germany, particularly as fresh data reveals that nearly half of the country’s 975,000 Syrians rely on state welfare benefits, or Bürgergeld. As of August 2024, 518,050 Syrians were receiving assistance. Although some have found work, only 32.7% hold jobs subject to social insurance, far below the 65.3% rate among Germans. This disparity persists despite Syrians being younger on average than the native population.
With elections just around the corner, Faeser’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) are adopting firmer stances on migration. CDU’s chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz has echoed similar sentiments, stating, “The one-third who work and are integrated in Germany can stay, but the two-thirds who do not work, they are overwhelmingly young men, many of them can go back, and many must go back.”
The CDU is expected to emerge as the largest party in the Bundestag, competing against the rising influence of the radical right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD). The AfD, long advocating stricter immigration policies, recently received an endorsement from U.S. billionaire Elon Musk, who described the party as Germany’s “only chance to save itself.”
Amid this debate, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock recently visited Damascus to assess whether Syria’s new leadership—a coalition of former rebel groups—can uphold human rights and foster inclusive governance. However, the visit took an awkward turn when the Islamist faction leading Syria declined to shake her hand, warmly greeting her French male counterpart instead.
As Germany grapples with the integration challenges and Syria’s political instability, questions about how to balance compassion with accountability remain front and center. With elections looming, migration policy is likely to dominate public discourse, reflecting deep societal and political divisions.
