Defend the right to asylum – stop the GEAS amendment act!

For decades, the right to asylum has been steadily eroded: increasingly illegal deportations to war zones and crisis areas, the suspension of the right to family reunification, the introduction of payment cards. Despite being classified as unconstitutional by the Berlin Administrative Court, refugees continue to be turned away at German borders on Dobrindt's instructions. The new milestone in an increasingly radical and inhumane policy of isolation: the GEAS Amendment Act. The reform of the Common European Asylum System (GEAS) was adopted at EU level two years ago. Now it is time for implementation at national level by mid-June 2026. To this end, the German government has presented a draft bill that could not be more inhumane and also threatens to undermine fundamental principles of the rule of law: The German GEAS Adjustment Act introduces restrictions that go far beyond the EU's requirements, at the expense of fundamental rights. The draft law provides for the establishment of closed ‘secondary migration centres’ where people can be detained for up to 24 months – families with children for up to 12 months. This is effectively the detention of asylum seekers without a court order!

In addition, parliamentary control is being undermined: in future, the federal government will be able to decide on the classification of so-called ‘safe countries of origin and third countries’ by decree – without the control of the Bundesrat and Bundestag. These decisions are existential and deprive those seeking protection of any chance of a fair trial.

Furthermore, protection for particularly vulnerable groups such as queer people, women and children, and people with disabilities is being dismantled. Access to legal advice in closed facilities is to be restricted.

We say clearly: the right to asylum must not be an instrument of populist symbolic politics! The increasingly brutal policy of isolation endangers numerous human lives and sends a fatal signal: fundamental social values and basic human rights can be trampled on at any time if right-wing and racist positions demand it.

That is why we are taking to the streets on 5 March 2026 at 5:30 p.m. to demand the strengthening and safeguarding of legal protection for asylum seekers, independent monitoring of closed facilities and the preservation of humanitarian and constitutional principles of asylum law.

Let's be LOUD and show solidarity together! No human being is illegal! Long live international solidarity!