A migration policy that unites

Migration is an ongoing issue of public concern in Germany, but surveys often only shed light on people's opinions on current policies, not on their fundamental attitudes. A new study by More in Common, funded by the foundation, addresses this gap and shows which values are important to people when it comes to migration policy. The picture is more nuanced than the political debate would suggest.

It is therefore a question of better shaping immigration, balancing concerns such as control, empathy and the contributions of new arrivals. 

This means, for example, that two-thirds of respondents think that people who are required to leave the country should be deported consistently, while half of respondents believe that integration-supporting measures—such as language courses—should be expanded. The research also shows that many people link immigration with economic strength: the deployment of workers in key industries is seen as the most important benefit of migration for Germany.

This is where the foundation's work on migration comes in: We are committed to a migration policy that upholds human dignity and demonstrates how managed migration can contribute to the economy, prosperity and society. In addition to an individual right to seek asylum, voluntary humanitarian programs and complementary migration options, such as the labor migration of skilled refugees or opportunities for those who can become skilled migrants through training or studies, are central building blocks for this.