Amnesty International Condemns Germany's Harsh GEAS-Asylum Reform Proposal

On October 9, during the first reading of the GEAS-Anpassungsgesetz in the Bundestag, Amnesty International strongly criticized the German government’s proposed asylum law reforms as serious human rights violations. The draft law includes strict border procedures, extensive detention policies including plans to detain nearly all asylum seekers — even children — and establishment of “centers for secondary migration,” which Amnesty warns amount to closed detention centers with harsh conditions. Julia Duchrow, Secretary General of Amnesty International Germany, condemned the bill, saying that despite a recent drop in asylum applicants, the government is proposing measures that deeply infringe on human rights, notably the detention of vulnerable groups like children. Amnesty called on lawmakers to significantly reduce the severity of the reforms and to align Germany’s asylum laws more carefully with European human rights standards. The organization highlighted that the government’s plans exceed EU implementation guidelines decided in June 2024, including cuts to asylum seekers’ benefits and broad authority for detainment. This law reform debate marks a critical moment as Germany grapples with balancing migration control and human rights obligations.