Immigration authorities – at the limit of their capacity

Efficient immigration authorities are necessary in order to implement the federal government’s plans for immigration and deportations. But the problems are enormous, a new study shows.

For Melanie Schmickler, her job is also a calling. She heads the immigration office in Dortmund. It is important to her that the authority is well positioned to be able to carry out the numerous tasks. Because they continue to increase due to new laws, for example with regard to skilled immigration, naturalization or deportations.

The demands on your employees are high and the constantly changing legal regulations are complex. In 2012 there were still 80 employees in the Dortmund authority, says Schmickler. There are now 180. The need is increasing. The head of the authority speaks of “enormous pressure to act” in all areas. The staff is not enough. “It’s fermenting and burning everywhere,” she says.

Workload greatly increased

The Chancellor has great hope in the immigration authorities. “We finally have to deport those who have no right to stay in Germany on a large scale,” Olaf Scholz recently said in “Spiegel”. This is often not possible at all, for example because the papers of rejected asylum seekers are missing or their home countries do not accept them back.

In addition, the immigration authorities, which have to check whether asylum seekers who are obliged to leave the country can be deported, are not well positioned. Migration researchers have investigated why this is in a new study commissioned by the Bertelsmann Foundation, which was presented to ARDReport from Berlin available exclusively.

To do this, scientists from the University of Hildesheim and the University of Duisburg-Essen conducted a survey among 90 immigration authorities and conducted interviews with employees. 92 percent of those surveyed say that the workload has increased significantly in recent years. Eight percent did not provide any information. The frustration is therefore great. 72 percent stated that new employees do not have sufficient prior knowledge from their training or previous job. The rest rated this as “partly/partly” or did not provide any information.

Many employees are overwhelmed with decisions

Especially in the legal area, the knowledge was not sufficient to handle the tasks in the authority. None of the study participants had the impression that new employees were well prepared. They have to make far-reaching decisions, such as whether people are allowed to stay in Germany or have to leave the country. The discretion overwhelms many people and leaves them feeling left alone. As a result, many are transferred to other positions in other offices after just a few years.

Study director and migration researcher Hannes Schammann warns of the consequences if immigration authorities do not function: things stay put longer, applications are not processed and, essentially, laws are not implemented properly. For example, the federal level projects for the immigration of skilled workers on the one hand and the rapid deportation of rejected asylum seekers on the other. The frustration among the population will then increase, says the professor of political science.

The scientists recommend streamlining the work of the immigration authorities. This concerns unnecessary test orders. An example: If the job center has already approved a document, the immigration authorities often check it again. If such unnecessary processes were eliminated, employees would have more time for other things.

Better training, better pay, digitalization

In addition, working in immigration authorities must become more attractive. Through more staff who receive better training and further education and are better paid. The digitalization of immigration authorities also leaves a lot to be desired. Currently there are often “isolated solutions,” says Schammann. This means that digital processes are not coordinated with other authorities or even nationwide. That has to change.

In addition, new digital workflows would have to be developed that actually make things easier, such as automated digital processes and not just scanning documents. According to the study, only 24 percent of immigration authorities have the option of submitting digital applications.

Lots of room for improvement

This is already the case in Dortmund. But that doesn’t make the work any easier, says team leader Laura Hinteresch. For them, digital application means: an email with a PDF attachment is received. The information from this would then have to be typed up by hand and entered into another system. At the end, the process is printed out and filed in a paper file. So far, they have only created e-files here for refugees from Ukraine.

There is still room for improvement when it comes to digitalization, says head of the authority Schmickler. She hopes that the working conditions for her employees will soon improve – also so that they will stay with the authority longer. Currently, very few people would work there for more than three to five years. But the head of the authority needs more positions and well-trained specialists. Otherwise the waiting times will be even longer. Anyone who wants to become naturalized in the city currently has to wait twelve months – just to get an appointment to submit the application.

You can see the “Report from Berlin” on this topic today at 6 p.m. on ARD.