German Passport Instead of Deportation: Beyond the Politics of Rapid Naturalization

The federal government wants to enable naturalization after five years — or even after three years, in the case of “special merger achievements.” Currently, foreigners can apply for German citizenship after eight years of residence in the country.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) said: “The women and men who immigrated to Germany have contributed a lot to the fact that the economy is very strong. Germany needs better rules to naturalize all these great women and men.”

Perhaps we need better rules, but neither Schultz nor Secretary of the Interior Wesser offered a reasonable explanation for why “great women and men” should be naturalized faster than before. Why rush? What are the disadvantages of the rules in force now?

► This is indisputable in the federal government’s coalition agreement between the Social Democrats, the Greens and the FDP from 2021 as well. On the contrary, she says: “We will announce with a campaign about the possibilities of obtaining German citizenship.”

► This is baffling: if the government thinks it has to promote naturalization, the demand for a German passport cannot be so great. Indeed, many foreigners do not apply for a German passport under the current regulation, that is, after eight years. If so, why are they doing this after five years?

It is often said that foreigners do not want to give up their previous citizenship if they accept German citizenship. They are currently required to do so. Therefore, dual citizenship should be allowed in the future. This may be a good idea, but this is also why you should not shorten the naturalization deadline.

Virtually no one should be deported

So what’s behind the Turbo Pass plan? Fits with the overall picture: The Traffic Light Coalition wants to keep immigrants in the country, even if they have no reason for protection, are not granted asylum, or are not recognized as refugees. They must obtain the new “right of residence by chance” and then they can stay. Practically no one should be deported anymore. But if everyone stays anyway, they too can instantly become citizens. That’s kind of how people now think about ministries.

By the way, the problems that can arise are also not addressed: Whoever gets a German passport has the right to vote, he has to abide by democracy, justice and law without any condition or condition.

But this is not easy when you come from a political, cultural and religious environment that is completely alien to democracy and law. This includes the entire Middle East, with the exception of Israel. This can be a long process, taking more than three or five years.

A German passport is a guarantee of freedom, human rights and participation in the decision, which is really very valuable. The federal government sells it for less than it’s worth.