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BERLIN, May  28, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - The German government on Wednesday agreed
plans to restrict family reunions for some migrants and toughen rules for
obtaining citizenship.

A clampdown on immigration was a key promise of new conservative Chancellor
Friedrich Merz in the campaign for February's general election, and his
government swiftly moved to impose controls at Germany's borders after taking
office earlier this month.

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told reporters Wednesday that the new
measures marked a "decisive day" for the reduction of irregular migration.

The suspension of family reunions will last for two years and affect people
who have "subsidiary protection", not full refugee status.

Dobrindt said the move would help "take pressure off" local councils tasked
with providing for and integrating new arrivals.

He recalled that a similar measure was put in place between 2016 and 2018
in the wake of the European migration crisis.

Dobrindt also announced the scrapping of a reform implemented by the
previous centre-left government of chancellor Olaf Scholz under which some
immigrants could apply for citizenship after three years of residency if they
could prove they had had "particular success in integration".

The minimum residency requirement will now be brought back up to five years.
According to Dobrindt, the new measures will help reduce "pull factors" for
migrants who may otherwise attempt to enter Germany via irregular means.

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has long railed against
immigration, with leading figures in the party demanding mass deportations of
foreigners.

Merz has been accused by critics of pandering to the AfD with his rhetoric
but insists that taking action on migration is the only way to counter the
far-right's rising popularity.

The AfD achieved its best-ever score of just over 20 percent in February's
vote.

Wednesday's decisions are expected to be approved by parliament before the
summer break starting in July.

The tougher border controls introduced earlier this month aim at turning
back all undocumented migrants, including asylum seekers, and have irritated
some of Germany's neighbours.

"It's not surprising that these decisions have attracted criticism,"
Dobrindt said.

"But they are necessary to show clearly that we have changed course when it
comes to migration."