In Focus: Arab Immigration into Europe

How has Germany’s immigration stance shifted since 2015?

As America grapples with its own immigration issues, it can be interesting and informative to take a look at immigration in other countries around the world. One of the most substantial modern day migration movements has been that of Arabs into European nations.  In the late 20th century, several Western European countries saw an influx of immigrants, particularly of Arab descent. Many entered the country after seeking asylum.  The number of Arabs entering Europe was said to hit a crisis level in 2015, leading to a political backlash that could be likened to the one American immigrants currently face. 

An Immigration Crisis

In 2015, more than one million refugees and immigrants arrived in Europe by sea.  That next year, numbers dropped to about 360,000 immigrants, while 2017 saw an even sharper decline.  Political swings had much to do with the initial spike and now decline of immigrants to European nations.  In 2015, the majority of refugees coming to Europe were from Syria.  Most ended up in Germany, which at the time publically stated that it would welcome all Syrians to stay in the country.

People of Arab origin came to represent one of the largest ethnic groups in Germany, with over 400,000-500,000 people of Arab descent living in Germany currently.  Arab immigrants initially proved important to the German economy, providing a much needed infusion of people into the labor force.  By the middle of 2015, however, Germany’s welcome chilled after several German women were allegedly attacked by young men said to be Arab.

In the 2017 elections in Germany, immigration proved a major issue.  As the political climate turned against welcoming immigrants, Germany and several other European nations have cracked down on immigration by erecting fences, building their coast guard, and sending back immigrants to their home nations.  During this same time frame, America, with a new President at the helm, seems to be enacting similar anti-immigration measures, leading many to wonder what the future of immigration will look like. 

At the NPZ law group in New York, New Jersey and Indiana our immigration and nationality lawyers continue to assist foreign national clients with nonimmigrant work visas such as H-1B, L-1, O-1 as well as with PERM labor certification cases and pre-certified permanent immigration to the United States for green cards. If you should have any questions or need more information about the ways in which U.S. Immigration and Nationality Laws may impact you, your family, your friends or your colleagues, please contact the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Lawyers at the NPZ Law Group – VISASERVE -– U.S. Immigration and Nationality Lawyers by emailing us at info@visaserve.com or by calling us at 201-670-0006 (x107).  You can also visit our Law Firm’s website at www.visaserve.com.