The main flow of refugees enters Germany via the 'Balkan route'
Refugee flow has decreased
In August 2015, 130,839 asylum seekers arrived in Germany; in the past month of the current year, their number was 14,671. According to forecasts by the Federal Office for Migration, about 300,000 refugees will enter Germany this year, compared to 1.1 million last year.
Crime does not frighten
The number of crimes committed by migrants from 2014 to 2015 increased by 80% (from 116,328 to 208,344). Current data is not yet available, but the Federal Criminal Police Office states that 'the absolute majority of asylum seekers do not commit offenses.'
Deportations have increased
In 2015, 20,888 'rejected applicants' were deported from Germany. As of July 31, 2016, their number was already 13,134, and another 34,999 migrants voluntarily left Germany.
Identity documents
From January to July 2016, Federal Police officers checked 127,139 migrants upon entry into the country, 80% of whom had no passports. In total, the Federal Office for Migration issued about 120,000 identity documents for refugees.
Expenditures are rising
The federal government has planned to spend 7.8 billion euros on refugees in 2016. Until 2020, total expenditures on reception and integration programs for refugees will amount to 94 billion euros.
Asylum applications
In 2015, the processing time for applications was just over five months. This year, the period increased to 6.5 months.
Legislation is tightening
Legislative packages on stricter asylum rules I and II were adopted in October 2015 and March 2016. The Integration Act has been in effect since August 2016. Legislation on sexual offenses (§177) has been tightened.
External borders of the EU
Large centers for receiving refugees and processing their asylum applications have been built in Greece and Italy. On March 8, the European Union concluded a deal with Ankara on the return of refugees who entered the EU from Turkey. This country has already received 3 billion euros from Brussels for the accommodation of refugees.
'Safe countries' of origin
In 2015, Albania, Montenegro, and Kosovo were added to this list. Asylum seekers from these countries are now deported from Germany in the shortest possible time. The question of including North African countries in this list is under consideration by the Bundesrat, where opposition from the Greens must be overcome.
Labor market
As of May 2016, 99,337 refugees had full-time jobs (in 2015 – 75,673). Another 36,930 were employed in 'mini-jobs' (in 2015 – 28,897). The Hartz IV social benefit was received by 411,474 people from this category at the end of last April. Only five people (two women and three men) work in federal agencies, and another 12 have started apprenticeships here.