No more work bans: Only a few arguments about asylum and migration at the Green Party conference

After intensive negotiations and a short contentious debate, the Greens decided with a very large majority that work bans for foreigners should be completely abolished. “In addition, it should be enshrined in the right of residence that all those who work, do training or study here and have not incurred any debts are allowed to stay here,” says the motion, which was voted on at the federal party conference in Wiesbaden.

However, anyone who does not have a right of residence and does not take advantage of the opportunities offered to change lanes into the labor market or other opportunities must leave Germany. In such cases, good “return advice” makes sense. A voluntary departure is better than a deportation, because those who are deported elsewhere without a perspective or an idea for their own future are often back quickly. The Greens continued: “But the rule of law must take tough action, especially when it comes to serious criminals or religious extremists.” And: “Our constitutional state must exhaust all possibilities to prevent these people from continuing to pose a danger.”

Several delegates pointed out the value of migration in their speeches. This is not the problem, said Helge Piepenburg from the Schaumburg district association. “Lack of integration is a problem.”

However, the fact that the debate late on Saturday evening was quite close does not mean that there was no need for discussion. As is usual at party conferences, the vast majority of amendments were “negotiated away” – meaning they were no longer up for a vote, but were changed, withdrawn or incorporated into the motion in their original form.