Germans Agree to Admit Skilled Immigrants

German politicians have finally agreed on a progressive new immigration policy that will allow skilled non-European workers to enter and reside in the country. had spent three years working on the legislation. After much consultation and political wrangling, said German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder, a balance was struck between Greens who wanted a more liberal policy and groups who feared that opening the country to wider immigration would endanger national security in an age of global terror. Immigration law is a contentious issue in Germany, which, despite having a lack of skilled workers, also has high unemployment. The new plan would involve mainly non-EU foreign nationals, who have been effectively banned from immigrating to Germany since the 1970s. –YaleGlobal