Tag Archives: immigration

One Hundred Years Ago, two young Men left Bavaria for the United States – June 1922: the Vogl Brothers

Zur deutschen Fassung. When thinking about migration, we distinguish between push- and pull-factors when we try to get to the bottom of migrants’ and refugees’ reasons to move/flee. The former refer to incentives to leave a place and move away. … Continue reading

Posted in Germany, History, Travel, USA | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

German Migration to the USA

Debates on migration often center on whether it is a good or a bad thing. I rather view migration as something completely normal. Migration has been a permanent component of human history. Over centuries, Germany, or rather the territories that … Continue reading

Posted in Germany, History, USA, World War I | Tagged , | 19 Comments

Visiting the UK is as cheap as never before

Sometimes, particularly when I put on my lawyer hat, I am inclined to think that maybe, just maybe, that whole Brexit thing wasn’t properly thought through from the outset. But big words like “sovereignty” won over practical concerns, and thus … Continue reading

Posted in Economics, Immigration Law, Law, Politics, Travel, UK | Tagged , , , , , | 29 Comments

Germanize Yourself

Thanks to my FAQ on German citizenship law and my professional help, hundreds of additional people each year are able to obtain German citizenship and/or move to Germany. – But once there, the real problems begin. If you want to blend right … Continue reading

Posted in Germany, Immigration Law | Tagged | 5 Comments

“Slaves came to America to pursue prosperity and happiness”

This is what Ben Carson, the new US Secretary for Housing and Urban Development, said today, calling African slaves “immigrants who worked even harder”. During the Republican primaries, I referred to Ben Carson as the most stupid candidate, despite the … Continue reading

Posted in History, Human Rights, USA | Tagged , , , | 16 Comments

George Bush Sr. and Ronald Reagan on Immigration and a Fence with Mexico

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German history follows me all the way to Bolivia

Zur deutschen Fassung dieses Artikels. A few days ago in Santa Cruz in eastern Bolivia: The Orient Express on which I had come from San José de Chiquitos, even further in the east of the country, was delayed by an hour, so I had … Continue reading

Posted in Bolivia, German Law, Germany, History, Holocaust, Immigration Law, Law, Travel, World War II | Tagged , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Benjamin Franklin on Immigration

Benjamin Franklin, one of the founding fathers of the United States of America, wrote this about German immigrants in 1753: Those who come hither are generally of the most ignorant Stupid Sort of their own Nation… and as few of the … Continue reading

Posted in Germany, History, Immigration Law, Language, Politics, USA | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

“In the Sea there are Crocodiles” by Fabio Geda

Every week now, thousands of refugees make it to Europe. Thousands die trying. In debates on immigration, refugees are referred to by the numbers in which they arrive, in economic or in legal terms. It’s time to read the account of one … Continue reading

Posted in Afghanistan, Books, Europe, Human Rights, Immigration Law, Iran, Italy, Life, Terrorism, Travel | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Easily confused (52) Hungarian fences

Hungarian fence in 1989: Helping economic migrants who want to buy better cars and bananas – good. Hungarian fence in 2015: Helping genuine refugees from war-ravaged countries who risk their lives to survive – bad. And just because it rhymes: Hungarian dance

Posted in Cold War, History, Human Rights, Hungary, Music, Politics | Tagged , | 5 Comments