Stop of Family Reunification is Now Legally Binding
The temporary halt of family reunification is now fixed following a decision by the main committee. The corresponding regulation was approved on Tuesday by the coalition as well as the FPÖ. This means that applications from relatives of asylum seekers and those with subsidiary protection are effectively suspended for half a year. They can be submitted but will not be processed initially. The Greens see "show politics at the expense of children."
Applications will no longer be processed
Exceptions can be made to respect private and family life. Essentially, it is about ensuring that an adequate caregiver is present at the place of residence for young people. According to the asylum law, the suspension of applications can be extended up to three times for up to six months each.
The threat to maintaining public order established in the regulation had to be justified in writing by the government to the main committee. The argument is made with an overload of systems due to family reunification.
17,000 people came through family reunification
According to parliamentary correspondence, Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) pointed out that in the last two years, 17,000 people came to Austria through family reunification. This has overloaded many systems, especially the education system. Of course, the numbers have significantly decreased in recent months. According to the May statistics of the Ministry of the Interior, only 74 entries took place under the title of family reunification in that month.
Although the FPÖ agreed, Secretary General Christian Hafenecker believed that it was merely an attempt to feign activity. A six-month halt to family reunification will not solve the existing problems.
(APA/Red)
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.