On Friday, the Bundestag, Germany's federal parliament, voted in favor of a measure to suspend family reunification for asylum seekers granted subsidiary protection, with a majority of 444 votes in favor and 135 against.

This suspension will be in effect for a period of two years.

The decision specifically targets those who have been granted subsidiary protection and does not affect refugees who hold full refugee status under the 1951 Geneva Convention.

Subsidiary protection is a status assigned to migrants who cannot be returned to their home countries due to the threat of serious harm but do not meet the criteria for full refugee status.

As of the end of March, approximately 388,000 individuals in Germany were classified under this status, with the majority originating from Syria.

This suspension means that individuals with subsidiary protection will not be able to bring their family members to Germany for the duration of the two-year period, with exceptions possible in certain specific cases.

The move has drawn various reactions from different political factions and advocacy groups, reflecting broader debates around immigration policy and asylum in Germany.