Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Trying to Open the Migration Door

I noticed a story over at Focus (German news magazine) this morning, and it's going to be a serious issue for 2020, and the German national election in 2021.

There are roughly 120 German cities.....that via their city councils, have organized into something called 'Safe Ports'.  This organization is attempting to convince Berlin (the Bundestag and Chancellor Merkel)....that they (the cities) can accept more migrants from Med rescue operations.

Negativity about encouraging more refugees?  By regulation....the Bundestag is the responsible party, and are responsible for residence situations.  This is where the 'key' (the agreement on splitting up the numbers) comes into play, and divides refugees upon agreed lines to each of the 16 German states.  So the cities are saying.....skip the 'key' and the states, and just let us volunteer to handle it.

Universal acceptance of the city idea?  I suspect if you went to the general public....more than fifty percent would have serious questions, doubts, and stances against the 'wonderful' idea. 

A lot of people remember the 2014 to 2016 'era' and the chaos that occurred.  Most would argue that the German federal government had no clear plan, and lacked any 'adult-leadership' in this period. 

The other problem to this....if you think about the process that has been designed, once you agreed to this and imported in 30,000 migrants, there would have to be paperwork, and a review by BamF (the immigration agency for the German government) on each single member of the 30,000.  It is quiet possible that half of the migrants (especially if they are economic migrants from a safe country) would fail in their application.  Then the magic question is.....what do you do for deportation now?  Are the cities basically creating the next political crisis by taking on this topic? 

All of this leading to a major political discussion in 2020 and building up for the campaign of 2021?  I would go and suggest this is designed as an outcome, and likely to hurt both the SPD and CDU political parties the most, with the Greens likely facing some opposition from within their ranks. 

Why the hundred-odd cities can pick up on welfare families or poor retirees within their suburban zones, and seek to bring 'help' to them?  A big unknown. 

So settle back and watch as this develops politically in 2020.   

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