A boost for people leaving the country: payment cards for asylum seekers are having an impact!

A boost for people leaving the country: payment cards for asylum seekers are having an impact!

The introduction of payment cards for asylum seekers in Germany appears to have a significant impact on migrants' voluntary departures. Since the map was implemented across the board by the end of June 2024, which started in March 2024, the statistics show alarming trends. In Bavaria, for example, the number of departures by asylum seekers rose by almost 30 percent in the period from July to December 2024 compared to the same period last year - from 5,984 to 7,778 departures. This development is also seen as a success by the Bavarian authorities. t-online.de reports that an increase of around 30 percent was recorded in Bavaria, especially in spring 2024.

The situation in other federal states underlines this trend. In the Saale-Orla district in Thuringia, the number of departures rose from 31 in 2023 to 90 in 2024. An increase of 28 percent was also recorded in Greiz since the card was introduced in December 2023. In some regions, such as Brandenburg, the number of departures doubled, while in Saxony-Anhalt an increase of around a third was recorded. The figures from Saxony show an increase of 21 percent.

Payment card restrictions

However, the payment card also has to contend with criticism. Experts say that the cash limit of 50 euros and the ban on foreign transfers encourage the exodus of asylum seekers. In Hanover, where a social card without a cash limit was introduced, departures fell by 36 percent. This suggests that the restrictive payment card regulations could contribute significantly to increased churn.

In addition, there are massive concerns about the quality of life of asylum seekers. The Bavarian Refugee Council has described the payment card as a “discrimination card” and argued that the introduction of the card makes participation in everyday life more difficult. Critics see the CSU's argument that the card is intended to prevent money from being transferred abroad as scientifically untenable.

Unclear goals and future plans

Although over 70,000 payment cards are currently in use in Germany, it remains unclear what influence the card actually has on the willingness of asylum seekers to leave the country. The Interior Ministry has not provided any specific information about the migrants' destinations after they leave the country. It could be a complex interplay of factors that are interwoven with both the legal situation and the individual living conditions of the asylum seekers.

The CSU and the state government advocate the nationwide introduction of this measure throughout Germany, despite delays in some federal states. The sometimes contradictory results and the ongoing criticisms raise questions about the long-term effectiveness and fairness of the payment card system. br.de reports that the discussion about this will certainly continue in the coming months.