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The number of tolerated foreigners who have received a residence permit has doubled in the past two years.
At the end of February 2019, for example, there were only 660 people who were given secure prospects to stay by means of a so-called residence permit for well-integrated foreigners - in the meantime the value has risen to over 1,330.
That emerges from a report by the refugee ministry for the integration committee this Wednesday.
This “positive development” needs to be consolidated, emphasized Minister Joachim Stamp (FDP) in the paper.
With the aim of reducing the number of tolerated people and giving those who are well integrated the prospect of staying, the ministry asked the immigration authorities almost two years ago to make full use of the leeway in granting these residence permits.
According to the Refugee Council of North Rhine-Westphalia, there are high hurdles for a residence permit for tolerated persons due to a federal law: The tolerated persons must live here for several years, demonstrate language skills and have a secure livelihood.
In spring 2019, when interpreting the law, the Ministry of Integration granted the option of shortening the minimum length of stay in Germany if you had proven yourself in your job.
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"We welcome the efforts of the state government to give more people a secure perspective here," said Birgit Naujoks, managing director of the NRW Refugee Council, the German Press Agency.
The figures now show that well-intentioned immigration authorities have made use of these relaxed opportunities.
Overall, however, comparatively few of the around 66,000 tolerated people in North Rhine-Westphalia were still able to benefit from it.
"Among them are significantly more who have been here long enough and have been well integrated," said Naujoks.
Many are therefore still being put obstacles in the way, for example because a passport or a job is missing.
The latter is difficult to get without a residence permit.