The district, cities and municipalities have reached the limits of their capacity. "The municipal umbrella organizations and I personally have already addressed Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the federal government directly on several occasions and explained in no uncertain terms that we can no longer cope with this situation. But we are not being listened to," says the district administrator. "Now we are threatened with an acute overload and this is to the detriment of everyone, especially as it is almost impossible for the refugees to integrate successfully."
Turnaround in migration policy necessary
It is important to him to describe the situation transparently to citizens. "However, there is always the challenge of not stirring up right-wing extremist or populist tendencies. Because of course we are helping, there's no question about that," continued Allgaier. "But we urgently need a solution for all the problems that arise locally in the district and in the municipalities when more and more refugees come to a conurbation like the district of Ludwigsburg." If Germany records more than a third of all asylum applications within the EU in the first half of 2023 and more than one million refugees from Ukraine live here, the figures alone show that a change in migration policy is unavoidable.
Solution required from the federal government and Europe
The District Administrator criticized the fact that there are two types of immigration - those to Europe and those from Europe to Germany. This is another reason why it is becoming increasingly difficult to meet with understanding from citizens when gymnasiums are vacated, there are no more free places in daycare centers and medical care is overburdened. "The fact that there is no easy solution to the migration crisis should not deter us, and above all politicians at federal and European level, from facing up to this enormous challenge," demands Allgaier.
District Administrator makes concrete proposals for immediate measures
All institutions involved in successful integration are overloaded. "We don't have nearly enough language courses and our immigration authorities are working at the limit," continued District Administrator Allgaier. "The federal government must finally take action and consistently limit irregular immigration." Control at Germany's external borders should also no longer be discussed and considered, but must be implemented. It is also important to speed up asylum procedures and to make an official decision at the initial reception stage. "This way, only refugees who have been effectively granted the right to stay are admitted to the municipalities." Overall, decision-making processes need to become more efficient and faster. "And last but not least, I repeat the demand of my colleagues from the Landkreistag: people seeking protection should be obliged to accept non-profit work in addition to the current regulations. We must make it easier for them to enter working life, but at the same time we must also be able to demand it," concluded the District Administrator.
