Inclusion trajectories of resettled refugees in Germany

Resettlement policies and practices are supposed to allow the most vulnerable per-sons to settle permanently in Germany. In the mixed-method research project In-clusiveRE, we used an integrative literature review, a telephone survey, and quali-tative in-depth interviews to examine the extent to which Germany provides inclu-sive pathways for resettled refugees with and without disabilities. Using an intersec-tional lens, we analysed how structural contexts and public discourses shape (in)equality processes and, consequently, the subjects' self-positioning and coping strategies. Our article focuses on the results of the telephone survey. Knowledge about resettlement pathways in Germany is limited and almost exclu-sively provided by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees. In our study, 51 people who resettled in Germany gave feedback on their experiences of the first few months in their new communities. The interviewees faced considerable diffi-culties and barriers: family ties with relatives already living in Germany are consid-ered in 43% of the cases; access to language-appropriate support services is poor, with 12% of participants reporting no access to any kind of support; and in some instances, bureaucratic barriers limit rapid access to residence permits and social benefits. Due to the absence of inclusive structures in the communities, resettled families have to rely on their individual resources and skills. Hence, based on the survey results, we suggested more rights- and needs-based arrival conditions in Germany that will enable resettled refugees with diverse abilities to settle and par-ticipate in their new residence

Political science · Refugee · Sociology · Gender Studies · Law · Migration and Labor Dynamics · Migration, Refugees, and Integration · Sociology and Education Studies

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