Karl Ernst Thomas de Maizière born 21 January 1954) is a German politician (CDU) who has served as the Federal Minister of the Interior since 17 December 2013 as part of the third cabinet of Chancellor Angela Merkel. Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere outlined proposed changes on Friday to both refugees' right to remain in Germany and authorities ability to deport people from the country. "We will protect those who really are in need of protection" said de Maiziere, a member of Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union. He proposed the changes in the context of giving people he described as "well integrated and law-abiding" more opportunities to stay in Germany for a longer term. On the other hand, asylum seekers who tried to "trick and deceive" German officials must face the consequences, he said. Lawmakers from Social Democratic Party, the junior governing coalition partners, said the proposals required some changes. But opposition members from The Left and Green parties said they were disproportionate. Ulla Jelpke for The Left described them as "a veritable detention program for asylum seekers." De Maiziere defended the plans, which he said fell within European law.
Residency status A proposal that was welcomed across party lines was one to give foreigners who had lived in Germany for a long period without a secure residency permit, the right to stay. The plan would apply to people who had lived in the country for eight years and could prove they were able to support themselves with a secure income. For teenagers and young adults the qualification period would be four years. The bill is due to be discussed in the Bundestag, the lower house of parliament, on March 23.
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