Recent efforts to tighten asylum policies in Germany may not effectively deter irregular migration, according to findings from a Senegal migration survey. The study, conducted by the Leibniz Institute for Economic Research (RWI), examined the influence of proposed policy changes on individuals’ intentions to migrate from Senegal to Europe.
Germany implemented reforms last November aimed at curbing irregular immigration, including faster processing of asylum applications for migrants from certain countries like Senegal and Ghana, and accelerated deportation processes. Additionally, measures such as replacing cash with payment cards for asylum seekers and extending the waiting period for regular unemployment benefits were introduced to reduce the attractiveness of Germany as a destination country for Senegal migration.
The RWI survey, targeting nearly 1,000 men aged 18 to 40 in Senegal, revealed that awareness of European asylum procedures and regulations among respondents was low. Only a small percentage considered the amount of state benefits they would receive as a factor in choosing a destination country, with less than half even aware of asylum seekers’ eligibility for such benefits in Europe. The introduction of cash cards and the extended waiting period for benefits had minimal impact on migrants’ intentions to migrate.
The study highlighted that previous research has consistently shown that factors such as migrant networks and job opportunities outweigh government benefits in destination choice. However, the possibility of relocating asylum procedures to third countries, a policy being considered in several European nations, was found to significantly reduce irregular migration intentions.
Overall, while certain policy changes may influence migration decisions for specific populations, the RWI report suggests that significant impacts on reducing irregular migration are unlikely due to the limited emphasis individuals place on government benefits when choosing a destination country.