Law & Legal Protection

The AfD parliamentary group has submitted a written question concerning parallel justice systems operating in Germany. The inquiry examines the existence and extent of alternative legal structures functioning outside the state legal system.

Parallel justice refers to informal or alternative dispute resolution mechanisms that may emerge within specific communities. This is a significant matter for ensuring the rule of law and guaranteeing access to legal protection for all persons residing in Germany.

The federal government's response will provide information on documented cases, affected regions, and measures implemented to address such structures.

Federal Victim Commissioner Roland Weber has presented a report on his first year of activities. The AfD faction has submitted a parliamentary inquiry in the Bundestag to evaluate the work and results of this office.

The position of the Federal Victim Commissioner is significant for protecting victims of crimes and other violations. This also applies to persons residing in Germany regardless of their immigration status.

The findings of this report contribute to greater transparency in how Germany fulfills its obligations to victim protection and what support structures are in place.

The German Federal Government has initiated comprehensive simplifications in administrative procedures. The goal of these measures is to streamline processes and reduce the burden on public administration.

The Federal Council (Bundesrat) has now approved the Bureaucracy Reduction Act in the area of the Federal Interior Ministry (BMI). This decision provides the legal foundation for the planned simplifications.

The streamlining of administrative procedures may have positive effects on visa processes, permit applications, and other approval procedures relevant to immigrants and skilled workers.

On 12 June 2026, the reform of the Common European Asylum System (GEAS) came into force. This reform introduces far-reaching changes to asylum and residence law procedures that have significant implications for both applicants and authorities.

The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), as Europe's largest asylum authority, has implemented comprehensive adaptation processes to implement the new regulations. These modernisations affect central procedural workflows and standards in the processing of asylum and residence applications.

Individuals concerned with asylum, refugee, or residence matters should familiarise themselves with the specific changes of the GEAS reform to fully understand their rights and obligations.

On 10 June 2026, the Bundestag held its first debate on a draft law proposed by the Greens (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen) that would grant witness privilege rights to state-recognized social workers. The bill to amend the Code of Criminal Procedure was referred to the relevant committees for further consideration following the 30-minute debate.

The Legal Committee will lead the deliberations. The proposed witness privilege would also apply to volunteer legal advisors and would protect social workers in their professional capacity by preventing them from being compelled to testify against the interests of their clients in court.

This regulation could be particularly relevant for migrants, asylum applicants, and other persons seeking protection who receive support from social workers in their integration and orientation in Germany.

Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) presented his assessment of just over one year in office on 10 June 2026 during the German Bundestag's government questioning session. The minister emphasized that his ministry has established a new order in migration policy and prioritized security policy.

Dobrindt summed up the beginning of his tenure by stating that what started as a migration wave has become a migration turnaround. This underscores the strategic reorientation of migration policy under his leadership.

Strengthening population protection is a central concern. The ministry is currently working on the passage of the new Federal Police Act, which is intended to be completed before the summer recess. This establishes the legal foundations for enhanced security measures.

In June 2026, several legislative changes come into effect that also impact German asylum procedures. Asylum procedures are being standardized across Europe to become more uniform, faster, and fairer. This harmonization aims to align asylum processing standards throughout the EU and reduce associated processing times.

The new regulations are part of the European asylum reform and affect procedural workflows, deadlines, and requirements for processing asylum applications. Applicants can expect more transparent and standardized procedures in their asylum proceedings.

Several new legal regulations come into force in June 2026, including changes affecting asylum procedures in Germany. The announced European-wide amendments aim to make asylum procedures more uniform, faster, and fairer across member states.

This harmonization of asylum procedures at the European level is intended to lead to more transparent and accelerated processes. The specific regulations and their impact on asylum seekers in Germany will be clarified by the responsible authorities in the coming weeks.

The German Federal Government has adopted a draft law that revises the criminal code provisions governing human trafficking, labor exploitation, and forced labor. The reform aims to provide effective protection against the exploitation and abuse of workers.

The new regulations specifically address criminal provisions concerning human trafficking, economic exploitation of workers, and forced labor. The goal is to close legal gaps in existing legislation and establish higher protection standards for vulnerable workers.

The German federal government is implementing comprehensive reforms of the administrative court system to make it more efficient, digital, and modern. These reforms have direct implications for immigration and residence permit procedures, as administrative courts are central to appeals and challenges of visa decisions.

The planned changes are intended to achieve the following improvements:

For skilled workers, students, and other applicants, this potentially means faster decision-making processes in administrative court proceedings related to visas and residence permits.

The German federal government has passed a draft law to strengthen the criminal prosecution of human trafficking and sexual exploitation. The legislation aims to more effectively prosecute perpetrators and better protect victims.

Human trafficking is a serious crime that particularly endangers migrants in Germany. The new regulations are designed to increase criminal penalties and prevent perpetrators from evading prosecution.

Germany offers protective measures and support services for persons who have become victims of human trafficking or exploitation. Affected individuals can contact specialized counseling services and have access to legal advice and protection.

The German Federal Cabinet has adopted amendments to the Building Code (Baugesetzbuch) and Spatial Planning Act (Raumordnungsgesetz) to facilitate housing construction across the country. The reform enables cities and municipalities to streamline approval processes and expand residential development more efficiently.

The legislative changes address two priorities: increasing affordable housing supply while maintaining quality of life in urban and rural areas. This is particularly significant for skilled workers and immigrants who require adequate housing to establish themselves successfully in Germany.

The amendment represents an important step in addressing housing market challenges while upholding environmental and urban planning standards. Adequate housing availability is essential for effective integration of migrants and foreign workers in German society.

The Federal Government has adopted comprehensive legislation to combat human trafficking, labor exploitation, and forced labor. The draft law revises the relevant criminal code provisions governing these offenses, strengthening the legal framework for worker protection.

This reform is particularly significant for migrant workers in Germany. The updated regulations target exploitation mechanisms and protect employees from illegal working conditions.

The German federal government has initiated a comprehensive reform of the administrative court system to enhance efficiency, digitalization, and modernization. These reforms directly impact visa applications, residence permit proceedings, and related administrative disputes.

The reform aims to reduce court backlogs and accelerate case processing times. Digitalized procedures and improved administrative structures are intended to enable faster decision-making throughout the court system.

Key changes include digitalization of procedural workflows and organizational improvements within the judiciary. This includes appeals and administrative review procedures related to visa decisions and residence permits.

The German Bundestag has passed legislation on bureaucratic reduction in the Federal Ministry of Interior (BMI). The measures aim to simplify administrative procedures and relieve the burden on public authorities.

These simplifications also affect immigration and residence law processes. By optimizing administrative workflows, the aim is to reduce processing times and improve efficiency in handling visa applications, work permits, and other residence-related matters.

The reforms are part of the federal government's comprehensive efforts to modernize state structures and support citizens and businesses through reduced bureaucracy.