The new German immigration law: history and details

Abstract

In July 2004 the German parliament finally approved the new Immigration Law. Since the German Chancellor had taken the initiative in February 2000 until the final approvement of the law, four years of hard political debate had passed by. The article describes the process of developing this law. It also informs about the major changes introduced by the law concerning labour migration, acceptance of refugees and asylum seekers, the integration of the immigrants, and questions of national security. The most remarkable detail is that for the first time in its long migration history Germany recognizes its status as a country of immigration.