Feasibility study on the im-/mobility of people obliged to leave the country in Germany , Date: 2022.06.14, format: project (current), area: Authority

The research project entitled "Feasibility study on the im-/mobility of people obliged to leave the country in Germany (MIMAP)" analyses the motives of and the options available to people obliged to leave the country regarding three possibilities of im-/mobility: continuing residence in Germany, returning to the country of origin, and onward migration.

The goals pursued by the MIMAP

Currently, one of the migration policy goals pursued in the Coalition Agreement of the Federal Government is to considerably reduce the number of people obliged to leave the country via an offensive on return migration, as well as by providing opportunities under the title of "Chancenaufenthaltsrecht" (literally: opportunities-based right of residence) to obtain legal residence for persons with long-term temporary suspension of deportation status (known as a Duldung). MIMAP, which was initiated by the Research Centre of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), expands on this goal, and aims to provide empirically well-founded, application-orientated knowledge regarding the residence, return and onward migration of people obliged to leave the country. It is also intended to lead to a better understanding of why people obliged to leave the country remain in Germany despite poor legal prospects to remain and participate, and in spite of offers regarding voluntary return. The MIMAP focuses on people obliged to leave the country who have an asylum background, the overwhelming majority of whom have temporary suspension of deportation status. The results of the research are intended to provide a stimulus to refine measures related to policy on return migration and consolidating residence.

The research design

The research design for the feasibility study is based on both qualitative and quantitative social science methods. The study has two empirical parts.

Part I: Analysis of existing data

The first part of the project consists of consulting existing data from the Central Register of Foreigners (AZR), as well as data from the IAB-BAMF-SOEP Survey of Refugees, in order to specifically describe the group, who have temporary suspension of deportation status, more precisely among people obliged to leave the country who have an asylum background. The goal is to take a closer look at procedures under the law on residence, that is paths into and out of temporary suspension of deportation status, as well as moving away, fluctuation and circular migration patterns. Furthermore, the integration of persons who have temporary suspension of deportation status is analysed over time, and in comparison, with displaced persons with a right of residence. People obliged to leave the country from all known countries of origin can be included in this part of the project. The data do not however provide any information on the subjective motives and scope for action of people obliged to leave the country with regard to the three options of im-/mobility constituted by residence, return and onward migration. The MIMAP is therefore to embark on a separate survey in order to study these topics in greater detail on the basis of the information obtained from Part I.

Part II: Separate data collection

People obliged to leave the country are insufficiently reachable via traditional sampling and survey methods. An app-based quantitative survey which has been specially developed for groups that are hard to reach is therefore to be carried out via a Respondent Driven Sampling (RDS). This method is similar to a controlled snowball sampling which starts with a small number of well-networked key individuals who, once they have been surveyed, recruit additional suitable persons for the survey from their social networks, who themselves in turn become recruiters once they have successfully taken part. What is known as a Formative Assessment is crucial to the success of the survey. This qualitative preliminary study entails involving the first key participants via establishing contacts, visiting them in person, as well as additional ethnographic methods in order to gain trust among the survey group, whilst at the same time obtaining initial knowledge of the motives and circumstances of people obliged to leave the country. The key individuals then help in recruiting additional participants. The RDS survey aims to cover the subjective motives of im-/mobility (return, residence, onward migration), and is limited to the countries of English-speaking West Africa (Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone).

We would be happy to answer any questions that you may have regarding this project (see contact information).