Germany plans to halt funding for independent asylum counseling
Mar 14th 2026
Reports say Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt informed civil society groups that state funding for independent asylum counseling will end in 2027, drawing criticism from charities and opposition parties.
- Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt plans to stop state funding for independent asylum counseling in 2027, RND and Correctiv report.
- The counseling program informs asylum seekers about their rights and was set up with state funding approved in 2022.
- Some 108,000 asylum seekers used the service in its first two years.
- Charities including the Workers' Welfare Association and the rights group Pro Asyl warned the cuts would weaken legal safeguards for refugees.
- SPD lawmaker Hakan Demir said the move has not been agreed by the coalition and defended access to independent advice for vulnerable groups.
- Dobrindt has argued for tighter border controls and measures against perceived abuse of asylum law, which officials say underlies the budget change.