Germany: Berliners march through streets to protest proposed asylum law

Hundreds of people marched through the streets of Berlin to the Bundestag, Thursday, to protest against a drafted law which would make it easier for the German government to both reject asylum seekers claims and deport migrants. Protesters chanted pro-immigration slogans and held signs reading "no one is illegal" and "stop the tightening of the asylum laws. To flee is not a crime". Currently Germany accommodates approximately 125,000 migrants who have been unsuccessful in their applications for asylum, but have not yet been deported. The proposed law would grant migrants the chance to stay in Germany if they meet certain requirements including being able to prove they have been living in the country for several years, have a sufficient level of German and have the ability to live without state support. If applicants for asylum do not achieve the criteria they face deportation; a process which the proposed bill will restructure to make it easier to carry out.