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JRS Germany - www.jesuiten-fluechtlingsdienst.de

Political Developments

During 2007, the German government implemented a number of asylum and immigration European Union directives and in doing so, enacted major changes to the German immigration law. Despite heavy criticism denouncing some of the new provisions - which were in danger of violating constitutional and international law - the act came into force on 28 August 2007. Specific areas of concern were restrictions placed on family reunification, the definition of a refugee, detention and changes to the recognition procedure.

The Ministry for Home Affairs reported to the German parliament that no major changes to the law for irregular migrants were required. This was in contrast to the Catholic Forum’s Life in Illegality campaign, of which JRS is a member, which issued a statement detailing the problems irregular migrants face and the urgent need to change relevant legislation.

In Germany the number of detainees housed in detention facilities diminished. During 2007, 1380 people were detained in the Berlin Detention Centre. This compares with 1750 in 2006 and 2000 in 2005.

At the beginning of 2007, the number of detainees housed in the Eisenhuettenstadt detention centre was 20. Towards the ends of 2007, the number of detainees awaiting deportation in the centre totalled 80.

 

JRS Activities

Detention

JRS Germany continues to visit the main detention centres in Berlin, Eisenhüttenstadt (Brandenburg) and Munich (Bavaria). Almost 2,500 detainees were provided with legal, social and pastoral support during 2007.

The legal aid fund for detainees in Berlin-Brandenburg, established in 2005, was further developed in 2007. For the first time, co-funding was received from the European Refugee Fund (ERF). With a budget of almost 20,000 Euros, 80 legal cases were assisted. 30 of these cases have already had a successful outcome.

In November 2007, the legal aid fund was expanded to include Bavaria in southern Germany. 12 organisations agreed to support the initiative – among them Caritas Bararia, the Council of Catholics in the Diocese and the Amnesty International working group in Munich.

Advocacy

JRS Germany contributed to several NGO conferences discussing current border control operations and the creation of a ‘Fortress Europe’. FRONTEX, the EU border control agency, is often highlighted as a successful example of intergovernmental cooperation in protecting the EU’s external borders. However, this agency’s performance is being increasingly questioned by human rights activists. JRS Germany produced a policy paper criticising Frontex’s activities in relation to protecting the human rights of refugees and migrants.

On 19th February 2006, the JRS Germany director reported to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education, Mr. Vernor Muňoz, about the right to education for undocumented young people.  Access to the education system for undocumented migrants remains an ongoing issue. The Grand Coalition of Christian Democrats and Social Democrats on a federal level requested the federal government review the situation of undocumented migrants in Germany. In Hamburg a central register was set up with data on all pupils attending school there, which can be accessed by immigration services. In Hessen the Ministry for Education sent a letter to all public schools informing them that undocumented children did not have a right to go to school.

Hardship commission

In 2007, there were 9 meetings of the commission for hardship cases in Berlin, which decided on 220 cases. In 155 cases the commission recommended to the Berlin Home Secretary to issue a humanitarian residence status. This was granted in 94 cases. The JRS Germany team, as representatives of the Catholic Church, filed 36 applications. The commission decided on a total of 46 applications from 2007 and previous years. In 17 cases the Home Secretary granted a humanitarian residence status. In 7 other cases the people were granted a residence permit according to other regulations. As a result of JRS activities within the commission, 51 persons were granted the right to stay in Germany.

Staff News

The former director of JRS Germany in Berlin was appointed to coordinate and expand the work of JRS in southern Germany. He will start to work in detention centres assisting the prison chaplain. It is estimated that 600-700 detainees awaiting deportation are housed each year in Munich; other prominent centres in Bavaria are Nuremberg (300-400 people) and Regensburg (100-200 people). New staff were also appointed to visit the detainees awaiting deportation in Berlin and oversee women’s pastoral care in the detention centre in Berlin-Köpenick.


 

Contact Details

Country office:
Martin Stark SJ, Country Director
Jesuiten Flüchtlingsdienst, Witzlebenstr. 30a, 14057 Berlin
Tel: +49-30 3260 2590 - Fax: +49-30 3260 2592
Contact in Switzerland:
c/o c/o Lukas Niederberger SJ
CH-6313 Edlibach / Zug
Fon: 0041/ 41/ 757 14 74 - Fax: 0041/ 41/ 757 14 13
lukas.niederberger(a)lassalle-haus.org
Germany South:
Michael Hainz SJ, Local Coordinator,
Kaulbachstrasse 31a, D - 80539 München
Tel: +49 89 2386 2353 - Fax: +49 89 2386 2352
michael.hainz(a)jrs.net
Contact in Austria:
c/o Erich Drögsler SJ
Boltzmanngasse 9, A-1090 Wien
Fon: 0043/ 1/ 3108750-28 - Fax: 0043/ 1/ 3108750-31

Johannes König SJ
Dr.-Ignaz-Seipel-Platz , A-1010 Wien
Fon: 0043/ 1/ 5125232-43 - Fax: 0043/ 1/ 5125232-27
johannes.koenig(a)jesuiten.org



germany(a)jrs.net

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Jesuit Refugee Service Europe - Rue du Progrès (Vooruitgangstraat) 333/2 - B-1030 Bruxelles - Belgium
Tel: + 32 2 250 32 20 - Fax: + 32 2 250 32 29 - Email: europe(a)jrs.net