For more than three months, hundreds of refugees in Germany have lived in uncertainty following the government’s decision to suspend family reunification for beneficiaries of subsidiary protection.
Despite the time elapsed, no entry visas have yet been issued under the “hardship case” mechanism, according to an official government response to a parliamentary inquiry by Clara Bünger, a Left Party lawmaker.

The government stated that about 1,500 humanitarian applications are currently under review in cooperation with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), with final decisions made by the Foreign Ministry based on residence laws and internal directives.
Officials defended the freeze as a means to ease pressure on Germany’s reception and integration systems, while maintaining compliance with constitutional and EU law.

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However, criticism has mounted, with Bünger arguing that the Foreign Ministry’s guidelines are “so strict that they virtually prevent anyone from qualifying for exceptions.”
She accused the government of tearing refugee families apart and said that “human rights and the rule of law have no place in the current authoritarian asylum policy.”
The Left Party contends that more refugees should be eligible for humanitarian consideration, but tight restrictions and limited support have discouraged many from applying, fearing their hopes for family reunification would be in vain.