Latest news with #familyreunion
Arab News
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Arab News
German lawmakers vote to suspend family reunions for many migrants
BERLIN: German lawmakers voted Friday to suspend family reunions for many migrants, part of a drive by the new conservative-led government for a tougher approach to migration. Parliament's lower house voted 444-135 to suspend the possibility of family reunions for two years for migrants who have 'subsidiary protection,' a status that falls short of asylum. At the end of March, more than 388,000 people living in Germany had the status, which was granted to many people fleeing Syria's civil war. New Chancellor Friedrich Merz made tougher migration policy a central plank of his campaign for Germany's election in February. Just after he took office in early May, the government stationed more police at the border and said some asylum-seekers trying to enter Europe's biggest economy would be turned away. The bill approved Friday is the first legislation on migration since Merz took office. It will suspend rules dating to 2018 that allowed up to 1,000 close relatives per month to join the migrants granted limited protection, with authorities making case-by-case decisions on humanitarian grounds rather than granting an automatic right for reunions. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told lawmakers that the change would result in 12,000 fewer people being able to come to Germany each year and 'break a business model' for smugglers. People often know they won't get full recognition as refugees, 'but they set off for Germany because it is known that, even without asylum recognition ... you can have your family follow,' Dobrindt said. 'That is a significant pull effect and we are removing this pull effect today.' Dobrindt said 'our country's capacity for integration simply has a limit.' Liberal opposition lawmakers decried the government's approach. Marcel Emmerich, of the Greens, described the legislation as 'an attack on the core of every society, on a truly central value — the family.' 'Anyone who wants integration must bring families together,' he said. The far-right, anti-migration Alternative for Germany described the move as a very small step in the right direction. German governments have for years faced pressure to curb migration as shelters across the country filled up. The administration of Merz's predecessor, Olaf Scholz, already had taken some measures including the introduction of checks on all Germany's borders. Asylum applications declined from 329,120 in 2023 to 229,751 last year and have continued to fall this year.
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
German lawmakers vote to suspend family reunions for many migrants
BERLIN (AP) — German lawmakers voted Friday to suspend family reunions for many migrants, part of a drive by the new conservative-led government for a tougher approach to migration. Parliament's lower house voted 444-135 to suspend the possibility of family reunions for two years for migrants who have 'subsidiary protection,' a status that falls short of asylum. At the end of March, more than 388,000 people living in Germany had the status, which was granted to many people fleeing Syria's civil war. New Chancellor Friedrich Merz made tougher migration policy a central plank of his campaign for Germany's election in February. Just after he took office in early May, the government stationed more police at the border and said some asylum-seekers trying to enter Europe's biggest economy would be turned away. The bill approved Friday is the first legislation on migration since Merz took office. It will suspend rules dating to 2018 that allowed up to 1,000 close relatives per month to join the migrants granted limited protection, with authorities making case-by-case decisions on humanitarian grounds rather than granting an automatic right for reunions. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told lawmakers that the change would result in 12,000 fewer people being able to come to Germany each year and 'break a business model' for smugglers. People often know they won't get full recognition as refugees, 'but they set off for Germany because it is known that, even without asylum recognition ... you can have your family follow," Dobrindt said. "That is a significant pull effect and we are removing this pull effect today.' Dobrindt said 'our country's capacity for integration simply has a limit.' Liberal opposition lawmakers decried the government's approach. Marcel Emmerich, of the Greens, described the legislation as 'an attack on the core of every society, on a truly central value — the family.' 'Anyone who wants integration must bring families together,' he said. The far-right, anti-migration Alternative for Germany described the move as a very small step in the right direction. German governments have for years faced pressure to curb migration as shelters across the country filled up. The administration of Merz's predecessor, Olaf Scholz, already had taken some measures including the introduction of checks on all Germany's borders. Asylum applications declined from 329,120 in 2023 to 229,751 last year and have continued to fall this year.
Washington Post
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
German lawmakers vote to suspend family reunions for many migrants
BERLIN — German lawmakers voted Friday to suspend family reunions for many migrants, part of a drive by the new conservative-led government for a tougher approach to migration. Parliament's lower house voted 444-135 to suspend the possibility of family reunions for two years for migrants who have 'subsidiary protection,' a status that falls short of asylum.
Associated Press
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
German lawmakers vote to suspend family reunions for many migrants
BERLIN (AP) — German lawmakers voted Friday to suspend family reunions for many migrants, part of a drive by the new conservative-led government for a tougher approach to migration. Parliament's lower house voted 444-135 to suspend the possibility of family reunions for two years for migrants who have 'subsidiary protection,' a status that falls short of asylum. At the end of March, more than 388,000 people living in Germany had the status, which was granted to many people fleeing Syria's civil war. New Chancellor Friedrich Merz made tougher migration policy a central plank of his campaign for Germany's election in February. Just after he took office in early May, the government stationed more police at the border and said some asylum-seekers trying to enter Europe's biggest economy would be turned away. The bill approved Friday is the first legislation on migration since Merz took office. It will suspend rules dating to 2018 that allowed up to 1,000 close relatives per month to join the migrants granted limited protection, with authorities making case-by-case decisions on humanitarian grounds rather than granting an automatic right for reunions. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told lawmakers that the change would result in 12,000 fewer people being able to come to Germany each year and 'break a business model' for smugglers. People often know they won't get full recognition as refugees, 'but they set off for Germany because it is known that, even without asylum recognition ... you can have your family follow,' Dobrindt said. 'That is a significant pull effect and we are removing this pull effect today.' Dobrindt said 'our country's capacity for integration simply has a limit.' Liberal opposition lawmakers decried the government's approach. Marcel Emmerich, of the Greens, described the legislation as 'an attack on the core of every society, on a truly central value — the family.' 'Anyone who wants integration must bring families together,' he said. The far-right, anti-migration Alternative for Germany described the move as a very small step in the right direction. German governments have for years faced pressure to curb migration as shelters across the country filled up. The administration of Merz's predecessor, Olaf Scholz, already had taken some measures including the introduction of checks on all Germany's borders. Asylum applications declined from 329,120 in 2023 to 229,751 last year and have continued to fall this year.
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Joe Giudice Asks Trump for Presidential Pardon and Ability to Return to the U.S. 6 Years After He Was Deported
Joe Giudice is seeking a pardon from President Donald Trump The former Real Housewives of New Jersey cast member hopes to be granted American citizenship to be closer to his children The father of four and Bravo star was deported to his native Italy in 2019 after being indicted on federal fraud charges, but now lives in the BahamasJoe Giudice has a plea for President Donald Trump. The 53-year-old reality star, who was born in Italy but grew up in the U.S., is hoping the president, 79, can reunite him with his daughters by granting him a pardon. 'I'm Joe Giudice. I served my time, and I've been deported from the U.S. for nearly a decade,' the former Real Housewives of New Jersey cast member began as the caption to an Instagram post on Thursday, June 26. He continued, 'I was raised in Jersey, I'm a father of four amazing daughters, and I just want to be allowed to visit them again.' Giudice shares daughters Gia, Gabriella, Audriana and Milania with his ex-wife Teresa Giudice. All four of his girls appeared with him in the Instagram carousel, smiling and posing together for different photographs throughout the years. 'President Trump, I respect you and I'm asking for a second chance,' Joe concluded. Joe tagged both the president and Donald Trump Jr. in the post. 'If he can pardon the chrisleys he can pardon JOE!!!! ❤️❤️,' one person commented, referring to Chrisley Knows Best stars Todd Chrisley and his wife Julie Chrisley receiving presidential pardons from Trump. Teresa showed her support for Joe, writing, "🙏❤️." Joe and Teresa, 53, were indicted on federal fraud charges in 2013 and took turns serving time in prison. Teresa began with an 11-month jail sentence before Joe served 41 months and was later deported to his native Italy in 2019. Since then, he has relocated to the Bahamas. In May 2019, during Trump's first term as president, a source told PEOPLE that a pardon for Joe was not on Trump's radar. 'This has not reached the White House,' the source said. 'If it was worth it on the merits, this would be something, but just because [the Giudice family] is asking,' the source continued, adding, 'Thousands of people have through different means tried to bring different cases. The vast majority of them just don't warrant the decision.' Earlier this year, Joe revisited the possibility of Trump helping him with a pardon after Trump's reelection. "I got a lawyer working on something, but she's been working on it. Hasn't done anything yet. So I don't know. We'll see," Joe told Teresa during a January episode of her Turning The Tables podcast of his attempts to achieve American citizenship. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "I did get in front of the embassy and they denied me because I guess I'm a big criminal,' he added, saying the process took "not even five minutes." Later in their conversation, he added, "When I met Trump, I mean, he was very nice to me. I was very nice to him when we were on his show over there. I don't know. I mean, I think he should get me back." Read the original article on People
