Germany’s refugee integration cuts are a costly mistake

Is integration of foreigners in Germany at risk of becoming conditional on political desirability rather than the reality of who puts down roots in practice?

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has just erected two new barriers for foreigners: one at the border, and one squarely inside the country.

The first is clearly marked with makeshift fences and police vans. Dobrindt (CDU) announced that temporary border controls with all nine countries surrounding Germany would be extended for another six months as of March 1st, citing the need to curb irregular migration.

His ministry framed the move as part of a broader “Neuordnung” (restructuring) of Germany’s migration policy. A decade after “Wir schaffen das” became a global catchphrase, Germany has seen millions of people seek refuge or protection -- with around 2.7 million refugees and other protected persons currently residing in the country.

Faced with tighter budgets and mounting pressure from the right, the country is now far more cautious about who is allowed in -- and who is not.

The second barrier is far less visible, but just as consequential for many foreigners already living in…