Welcome to the website for the Saxon Commissioner for Foreign Nationals, Geert Mackenroth!
The Saxon Commissioner for Foreign Nationals promotes the integration of foreign nationals living in the Free State of Saxony and protects their interests. The office was established in 1992. At the beginning of each parliamentary term, the state parliament elects one of its members as Commissioner. The Commissioner is independent and autonomous and works to promote the legal, social and cultural integration of people with a migration background living in Saxony.
“Do you have any suggestions, concerns, wishes or requests that fall within my responsibility? Then please don’t hesitate to contact the Commissioner for Foreign Nationals’ office. I can’t promise any miracles, but I will consider your request carefully.” Geert Mackenroth
Of Saxony’s approximately four million inhabitants, about 5.3 percent do not hold German citizenship. The Commissioner for Foreign Nationals is committed to ensuring that the interests of such people are adequately represented in Saxony, within the state government, parliament and society as a whole.
What the Commissioner and his office do in practice
We can provide information and advice
Which agency is responsible for this issue? What does the official document say? What does this law mean?
We can mediate
Which government agency, aid organization or advice centre can help with this issue?
We can offer support
If someone is having difficulties with their employer, landlord or an authority, we can work with them to try and resolve the matter.
We can’t decide
Decisions can only be made by the competent authority, such as the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, the Federal Employment Agency, the Social Welfare Office or the Immigration Office.
We can’t issue instructions
The Commissioner for Foreign Nationals does not have the right to instruct other authorities.
We are not lawyers
The office cannot act as a lawyer.
Key responsibilities of the Commissioner
- Providing annual reports to Parliament on the situation of foreign nationals living in Saxony
- Helping to draft laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to foreign nationals
- Advising the Saxon State Parliament’s Petitions Committee on petitions relating to foreign nationals
- Public relations and public information
- Membership of the Hardship Commission
- Supporting municipal commissioners for foreign nationals, and associations and institutions working on the integration of foreign nationals
- Receiving and processing requests and complaints
- Advising meetings of the Saxon State Parliament on current issues relating to migrants living in Saxony
- Working with a range of national-level bodies in Germany to formulate integration policy; participating in conferences and events
- Liaising with the Federal Integration Commissioner and commissioners at state level
Municipal commissioners for foreign nationals and integration (KAIB)
KAIBs’ experience and commitment are fundamental to migration and integration work in Saxony. They are familiar with aid facilities, have local contacts and know who the decision-makers are.
Representatives of the federal states
Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF)
Advice centres in Saxony
Migration Guidance Centres (MBE) advise adult immigrants over the age of 27 who may be able to gain permanent residency. Immigrants under the age of 27 are looked after by the Youth Migration Services (JMD). The advice centres are run by social associations such as the Arbeiterwohlfahrt (Workers’ Welfare Association), Caritas (Catholic welfare association) and Diakonie (social welfare organisation of Protestant churches).
Advice for associations
The Saxon Commissioner for Foreign Nationals offers all associations and alliances of the Free State the opportunity to discuss issues in confidence. It is not possible to provide financial support. Please call to make an appointment for a discussion either online or in person.
Information materials on migration in Saxony, aids, learning materials and papers
We are happy to send Saxon Commissioner for Foreign Nationals publications to all citizens and institutions. Shipping is free of charge to individuals and institutions within Germany.
Order publications free of charge
Volunteering and getting involved
Many places in Saxony have voluntary initiatives that provide advice, help with learning, or sponsorship to immigrants. There are volunteering and integration coordinators in a number of districts and cities. Help and contacts are often listed on the association’s or city’s regional website.
The immigration authorities of the relevant district or urban municipality are responsible for all rulings on residence or employment. Translation services and municipal interpreting services are available. District and municipal social welfare offices provide advice on social issues.
The Federal Employment Agency provides training and job opportunities as well as unemployment benefits. Local job centres advise jobseekers and employers, and provides support for education and training.
Vocational Information Centres (known by the acronym BIZ in German) provide comprehensive information to pupils, teachers and parental representatives on all aspects of education, careers and studies.
Decisions that are part of the asylum procedure are made by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF).
Migration and integration issues in the context of social policy are the responsibility of the Saxon State Ministry for Social Affairs and Social Cohesion. Education is the responsibility of the Saxon State Ministry for Cultural Affairs. The State Directorate of Saxony (Landesdirektion Sachsen or LDS) is responsible for taking steps to terminate residence (deportations). Regulatory decisions are ultimately a matter for the Saxon State Ministry of the Interior.
Saxon Committee for Social Welfare and Community Cohesion
Saxon State Ministry for Culture
Saxon State Ministry of the Interior
Where anyone has a request or a complaint with regard to government action, they can contact the Saxon State Parliament Petitions Committee in writing or online.
Saxon State Parliament Petitions Commission
The Saxon State Government’s support for integration projects is based on the funding guidelines for integration initiatives. The Saxon Commissioner for Foreign Nationals does not provide financial support for integration projects.
Saxon Committee for Social Welfare and Community Cohesion
Emergency standby services
Most public administrations in Saxony are have weekday opening hours. Standby services are in place at police stations or courts to handle urgent cases within the responsibility of the regulatory authorities. Regional contacts can be reached via police departments. The public authority hotline is 115.
Pupils
The Free State of Saxony Schools Act requires equality of educational opportunity for all pupils. The Saxon Education Agency offers special educational advice to all school-age children under the age of 18. A coordinated approach is taken to clarify what further studies pupils will pursue. Advisory services are provided at regional Education Agency offices in Bautzen, Chemnitz, Dresden, Leipzig and Zwickau, depending on pupils’ place of residence.
Young people over 18
There is no compulsory education requirement for young migrants over the age of 18. They can continue their education and obtain their Abitur (high school diploma) provided they submit an application and attend special educational counselling at a designated college. Admission decisions are made by college management. The young adults are admitted to a preparatory class and gradually integrated into mainstream study. Over18s who are undertaking language courses and specific classes provided by the Federal Employment Agency (BA) in preparation for vocational training do not receive any special educational counselling.
The Saxon Commissioner for Foreign Nationals works with the Saxon Ministry of the Interior to promote naturalisation, by welcoming new Germans with a naturalisation ceremony, for example. Naturalised citizens have equality with all other citizens along with the same rights and responsibilities. Naturalisation is a clear signal that the person has put down roots in Germany.
Information about naturalisation
The Hardship Commission can ensure that foreign nationals who would otherwise have to leave the country are granted residence permits for urgent humanitarian or personal reasons.
In the Free State of Saxony, a Hardship Commission was established in 2005 by the Saxon Hardship Commission Ordinance (SächsHFKVO), pursuant to Section 23a of the Residence Act. Geert Mackenroth is the elected Chairman of the Commission.
How the Commissioner for Foreign Nationals works
The tasks individuals have to complete and the problems they are usually faced with generally arise at local level. The Commissioner therefore works closely with municipal commissioners for foreign nationals and integration, homing in on concerns, identifying what action is needed, and bringing this to the attention of the regional government. The Commissioner’s office is part of the state parliament administration and supports and advises the incumbent.
