In February 2025, a study commissioned by Germany's Federal Interior Ministry confirmed what many immigrants and people of colour living in Germany have long experienced: racism in public authorities is not a matter of isolated bad actors — it is a structural problem. The report's release was notably understated, with minimal press coverage and little immediate government response. For the expat and immigrant community, this study matters deeply. Most of you interact with public institutions regularly — the Ausländerbehörde, the Jobcenter, the Anmeldung office, social services — and the quality and fairness of those interactions can directly affect your legal status, your finances, and your wellbeing.
The study, initiated by the Interior Ministry, examined patterns of discriminatory behaviour within German public-sector institutions. Its core finding was that racism operates systemically — meaning it is embedded in processes, institutional cultures, and decision-making patterns, not just in individual attitudes. People who are racialised as non-German, whether due to their name, appearance, accent, or documentation status, reported being treated with greater suspicion, less patience, and more procedural barriers than their white German counterparts.
The research drew on interviews, case documentation, and comparative analysis across multiple agencies. Specific institutions named in the wider discourse around the study include police, immigration offices, and social welfare agencies — precisely the bodies that many expats interact with most frequently.
Critically, the study's release was described by observers as "conspicuously restrained." There was no press conference, no ministerial statement setting out a response plan, and no timeline for implementation of recommendations.
For expats and immigrants — particularly those from non-EU countries, those with racialised identities, or those navigating complex visa situations — this is not abstract. Discriminatory treatment in a public office can have concrete consequences:
The study gives formal institutional weight to experiences that have often been dismissed as misunderstandings or individual rudeness. It also opens a clearer pathway to formal complaints.
Germany has legal protections against discrimination in public life. The Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz (AGG — General Equal Treatment Act) prohibits discrimination based on ethnicity and racial origin, including in interactions with public bodies in certain contexts. Additionally, the Antidiskriminierungsstelle des Bundes (Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency) offers free, confidential advice and can support you in documenting and pursuing complaints.
Here are practical steps if you experience discriminatory treatment in a public authority:
Civil society organisations working on migration and anti-racism in Germany have responded to the study's low-profile release with frustration. Key demands include:
Whether the current government will act on these demands remains an open question. The political climate around migration and integration in Germany has shifted notably in recent years, and advocates fear the study's findings may be quietly shelved.
Yes. You can file a complaint through the Antidiskriminierungsstelle des Bundes (Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency), which handles cases involving racial or ethnic discrimination. You can also approach the office's internal complaints mechanism if one exists, or escalate to the supervising authority (Aufsichtsbehörde). Document everything in writing. If your residence status has been affected, consult an immigration lawyer.
The AGG primarily covers employment and access to goods and services. Its application to public-authority conduct is more limited and contested. However, constitutional equality principles (Article 3 of the Grundgesetz) apply to all state action. In practice, the Antidiskriminierungsstelle and the administrative courts are the most practical routes for pursuing a complaint against a public body.
The Antidiskriminierungsstelle des Bundes offers free, multilingual advice. Many cities also have local Migrationsberatung services and organisations such as Faire Integration, which specialise in helping immigrants navigate rights issues with public institutions.
The government-backed study confirming structural racism in German public authorities is a significant moment — even if the official response has so far been muted. For expats and immigrants, it validates experiences many have had and provides a clearer basis for formal action when those experiences cross into discriminatory treatment. Know your rights, document interactions that feel unfair, and use the available support structures. Advocacy groups will continue to push for systemic change; in the meantime, practical self-protection matters.
Source: tagesschau
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