Vast majority of 2019 asylum applications in Germany have been denied

German authorities have rejected a large majority of asylum applications received in 2019. Only 35 to 38 percent of asylum applications end up being approved, according to Hans-Eckard Sommer, Head of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF).

This means that “almost two-thirds of the people coming to Germany don’t have grounds for asylum,” said Sommar.

A recent report by the German public broadcaster ARD argues that the success of a migrant’s asylum application may depend on where they apply. The report shows evidence of 22 asylum offices having much lower approval rates, often up to 30 percent lower for specific nationalities than the national average. 

The BAMF offices with the lowest chances of being granted asylum were in Berlin, eastern Germany and in the state of Bavaria. The report also found that most of the affected asylum-seekers were from Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey and Somalia.

Germany received around 110,000 new applications between January and October 2019, according to Sommer. The BAMF expects to receive between 140,000 and 145,000 applications by the end of the year. This figure is lower than the 160,000 new applications that were received in 2018. 

Despite the decrease, the BAMF head still thinks the number of new arrivals is too high: “even if the authorities can cope with the current amount, there are still too many people using asylum routes,” he said.

Earlier this year, the German government agreed on tougher rules which made it more difficult for rejected asylum seekers to avoid deportation. The new rules also penalise those who hide their true identity and those who fail to replace lost travel documents. The German government will also be doubling the number of prison places reserved for deportees.

TMP 08/11/2019

Photo credit: By Pradeep Thomas Thundiyil / Shutterstock

Photo caption: Frankfurt am Main, Germany – July 25 2019: German Police Officers near Central Railway Station in Frankfurt, Germany.