The Restrictive Immigration Policy of the Kohl Government (May 6, 1983) In the face of growing long-term unemployment among German workers, the (more) conservative Christian-democratic-liberal coalition government turned to further restrictions on immigration. While calling for the integration of West Germany’s resident foreigners, the coalition also developed new measures to keep future immigrants out.
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page 1 of 3 The Situation of Foreigners in the Federal Republic of Germany from 1955 to 1983 [ . . . ] In his government policy statement of May 4, 1983, Federal Chancellor Helmut Kohl confirmed that his administration’s policy on foreigners [Ausländerpolitik] will be shaped by three guidelines: integration, the restriction of further arrivals, and the promotion of foreigners’ willingness to return to their home countries. In addition, the chancellor appealed to both Germans and foreigners to work towards even greater mutual understanding and even greater tolerance. From the government policy statement of May 4, 1983: “Our policy on foreigners follows the guiding principles that I introduced a few months ago, on October 13, 1982: - the integration of foreign workers who have lived here with us for a long time and [the integration] of their families. - the restriction of further of arrivals, and - the promotion of foreigners’ willingness to return to their home countries. The commission I announced has presented the results of its work. Necessary decisions will be made after in-depth discussion with all the stakeholders. The federal government will then present a draft of the new Aliens Act. More than 4.6 million foreigners presently reside in the Federal Republic of Germany. We know that we owe them considerable gratitude. But it must also be said that we are not prepared to allow foreigners to carry out their own political conflicts, with the use of criminal means, in the territory of the Federal Republic of Germany. We will carefully investigate whether political extremism and crime by foreigners can be more effectively combated by expanding the options for deportation. To be able to offer protection to the persecuted and to refugees from all over the world, in accordance with the liberal tradition of our Basic Law, the federal government will do everything in its power to prevent the abuse of the right to asylum. Living side by side with so many foreign nationals is not problem-free. I appeal to all of us, to Germans and foreigners, to work towards even greater mutual understanding and even greater tolerance.”
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