For many years, entry into the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and the possibilities of residence for refugees and migrants continue to become systematically reduced, and the social conditions are becoming ever worse.
In order to attain prolonged legal residence in the FRG there is, in reality, only the right to asylum. Migratory work is bound up with quotas and generally only for a limited period. There are no immigration quotas.
The asylum processes themselves are uniformly structured by the federal office for the recognition of foreign refugees (Bundesamt für die Anerkennung ausländischer Flüchtlinge, or Bundesamt) which has a branch office in each federal state. As a consequence the asylum process from beginning to end, and its legal foundations are exactly the same in each federal state.
Nevertheless, the conditions concerning social law and of asylum itself may differ quite considerably. This is due to the federal structure of the FRG with its 16 diverse state governments, the relative independence of their courts and the relatively pliable interpretation of implementation by the regional and communal authorities. Toleration of stay regulations (Duldungsregelungen) and stay of deportation regulations (Abschiebestoppregelungen), court pronouncements on grounds of persecution, methods of deportation-detention and even the amount and form of social help all fall under the jurisdiction of the individual state governments.
© unlimited - Stadtratte, 99-02-18 - www.nadir.org/nadir/initiativ/migration/