MASSIVE DECREASE OF ASYLUM APPLICATIONS
322,842 asylum seekers entered Germany in 1993. This is still an impressing figure. However, the new asylum law in force since 1 July has led to a massive decrease of asylum applications in the second half of 1993. While 250,736 asylum applications were filed in the second part of 1992, their number for the same period in 1993 was only 98,500. This is a decrease by 60,7%.
The new regulations on safe third countries and countries of origin, as well as a bi-lateral agreement with Romania on the return of rejected asylum seekers proved to be particularly efficient in curbing down unwanted immigration.
German authorities also point at increased efficiency in handling asylum applications. In 1993, the number of decision has doubled as compared with 1992.
The chance of obtaining asylum in Germany is minimal even for those refugees who manage to have their application considered. Of a total of 513,561 decisions, only 16,396, i.e. 3,2% were favourable.
Source: Neue Zürcher Zeitung , 7.1.94. See also in this issue, Opinion: article by Felix Schneider.
Comment
It remains to be seen, whether the de facto abolition of the right of asylum by the new German asylum law will have the dissuasive effect hoped for by the authorities. As a matter of fact, illegal entries have begun to increase sharply, since the introduction of the new stringent regulations. In 1993, police intercepted more than 50'000 illegal immigrants. This is approx. a quarter more than in 1992, but the number of persons who succeded in entering Germany illegally is likely to be far higher.
Thus, the new German (and European) anti-asylum policy, while certainly acheiving more control, more repression and more discrimination, is likely to fail, as far as its stated objective - a stop on "uncontrolled migration fluxes" - is concerned.
Thus, the decision-makers responsible of asylum and immigration are placing a time-bomb in the midst of our societies: the number of legally inexistent people, nonetheless living their lives among us, will grow, as long as the reasons forcing people to leave their countries of origin continue to exist. By denying these de facto existing immigrants any form of legal status, we are institutionalising exclusion. Exclusion, sooner or later, ends up in outbreaks of violence neither police nor Mr. Schäuble's internal security soldiers army will be able to stop.
N.B.