Migration policy Germany tolerates more than 200 000 migrants who have to leave
The German federal government reported that 256,873 individuals were legally required to leave Germany as of September 30, with 200,601 holding temporary tolerations known as Duldung. This figure represents approximately 78 percent of all those obligated to depart, marking a significant increase from December 2025, when there were 190,974 tolerated individuals out of a total of 232,067. The rise follows the expiration of the Chancenaufenthaltsrecht, a residence permit introduced by the previous coalition government in late 2022 that allowed long-term residents to transition to permanent status if they met specific criteria such as language proficiency and financial self-sufficiency. Green Party member of parliament Filiz Polat cited these figures in a parliamentary inquiry, criticizing current regulations for training and employment tolerations as overly complex and difficult to fulfill. She argued that additional pathways are needed to convert temporary tolerations into regular residence permits to provide planning security for businesses.
German authorities reported a sharp rise in the number of migrants required to leave the country who remain legally present under temporary permits. As of September 30, the Federal Ministry of the Interior counted 256,873 individuals subject to deportation orders. Of this total, 200,601 held a Duldung, a status that suspends removal due to factors such as missing documents, illness, or family circumstances. This figure represents approximately 78 percent of all those obligated to depart. Data released in response to a parliamentary inquiry by Green Party member Filiz Polat revealed the increase occurred over nine months. In late December 2025, the count stood at 190,974 tolerated individuals out of 232,067 total cases. Consequently, the number of those with suspended removal rose by 9,627, while the overall population subject to exit orders grew by nearly 25,000. The Duldung does not constitute a regular residence permit. Approximately 45,000 people received their first such certificate in the first three quarters of the current year. Among them were roughly 13,460 minors. Prior to this recent surge, figures had declined for three years following the introduction of the Opportunity Residence Right by the previous coalition government in late 2022. That rule allowed migrants present since October 31, 2022, to apply for probationary residency based on language skills and financial independence. The program expired at the end of 2025. Officials cited falling asylum recognition rates as another potential driver for the renewed increase. By June, the government had already recorded 199,271 tolerated individuals, a number that has since climbed by 1,330. Criticism emerged regarding existing pathways to secure status. Polat described regulations for training and employment tolerations as overly complex and difficult to fulfill. Records showed only 402 training tolerations and 17 employment tolerations registered. She argued that workers and trainees need guaranteed residency instead of prolonged uncertainty. Similar calls for new rules for integrated foreign laborers have come from members of the Social Democratic Party. Businesses require planning security and reliable staff, according to the Green politician. The data highlights the scale of administrative suspension in migration enforcement.
Go to the primary sources (1)
The official sources this coverage is built on. Read them directly to bypass framing.
The German federal government reported that 256,873 individuals were legally required to leave Germany as of September 30, with 200,601 holding temporary tolerations known as Duldung. This figure represents approximately 78 percent of all those obligated to depart, marking a significant increase from December 2025, when there were 190,974 tolerated individuals out of a total of 232,067. The rise follows the expiration of the Chancenaufenthaltsrecht, a residence permit introduced by the previous coalition government in late 2022 that allowed long-term residents to transition to permanent status if they met specific criteria such as language proficiency and financial self-sufficiency. Green Party member of parliament Filiz Polat cited these figures in a parliamentary inquiry, criticizing current regulations for training and employment tolerations as overly complex and difficult to fulfill. She argued that additional pathways are needed to convert temporary tolerations into regular residence permits to provide planning security for businesses.
Bias read (Conservative): The article frames the increase in tolerated migrants as a negative development resulting from the expiration of a specific legal provision, implicitly suggesting that the removal of this pathway led to a surge in irregular residency statuses. It highlights the complexity of existing rules through a
Why factuality (10): The article cites data from September 30th (256,873 total, 200,601 tolerated), whereas the primary source document explicitly provides figures for June 30th (199,271 tolerated). The article completely ignores the specific breakdown and totals provided in the ground truth document, relying instead on
Why objectivity (15): The tone is highly critical and uses loaded language such as 'deutlichen Anstieg' (significant increase) and frames the government's actions negatively ('Ampel-Regierung had created a new path'). It presents a one-sided narrative focusing on the rise in numbers rather than providing a neutral statis
taz – die tageszeitungIndependentProgressiveFactual: no official source document/info detectedObjective 70
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt recently stated at the Munich Migration Meeting that civilian sea rescue organizations in the Mediterranean have close ties to smuggling gangs and facilitate illegal migration. Following criticism from Green Party politician Marcel Emmerich, who requested evidence for these claims, the Federal Ministry of the Interior provided a written response that contradicts the minister’s initial assertions. The ministry acknowledged that saving lives at sea is a humanitarian and international legal obligation, noting that smugglers merely calculate the presence of ships due to this duty rather than collaborating with rescuers. Furthermore, the ministry stated that the causes of migration are complex and that the concept of 'pull effects' being caused by rescue operations is scientifically largely refuted. Emmerich criticized the discrepancy between the minister’s public accusations and his ministry’s internal assessment, arguing that those who save lives deserve recognition rather than suspicion.
Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the story around the contradiction between the Interior Minister's public accusations and his own ministry's subsequent retraction. It uses strong evaluative language such as 'drastically,' 'steep theses,' and 'quite embarrassing' to describe the minister's position. The piece omi
Why factuality: no official source document/info detected
Why objectivity (70): The tone is critical of the government position, using words like 'drastisch' (drastic), 'peinlich' (embarrassing/penalizing), and 'rudert... zurück' (backpedals). While these reflect the reporter's perspective on the inconsistency, they are somewhat editorialized compared to a strictly neutral repo
Die WeltIndependent🔒ConservativeFactual: no official source document/info detectedObjective 0
The provided text consists solely of a headline from the German newspaper Die Welt. The headline criticizes Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt for alleged secrecy regarding data on illegal immigration. It suggests that these specific figures would contextualize or diminish the impact of the government's recent 'migration turn' policy shift. No further details, quotes, or background information are present in the supplied excerpt.
Bias read (Conservative): The article uses highly critical and accusatory language ('auffällige Geheimniskrämerei', meaning conspicuous secrecy) directed at a government minister. By framing the withheld data as something that would 'relativize' the government's migration policies, the piece implies that the administration's
Why factuality: no official source document/info detected
Why objectivity (0): With no body text available, the objectivity of the presentation cannot be evaluated. Only the headline is visible, which suggests a critical stance ('Geheimniskrämerei', 'relativieren'), but this is insufficient to score the full article's balance.
How each side covered it
The same event, grouped by the political lean of the outlets covering it.
progressive
center
conservative
★
How each side covered it
Support independent, bias-aware news and unlock the social pulse, community voting, and every other Supporter feature.