BERLIN (AP) — Germany saw another big increase in the number of people gaining citizenship last year as large numbers of people from Syria helped push naturalizations up to their highest level since at least 2000, according to official data released Tuesday.
About 200,100 people were granted German citizenship in 2023, the Federal Statistical Office said. That was an increase of about 31,000, or 19%, compared with the previous year.
The increase followed a 28% rise in 2022, which also was fueled by large numbers of Syrians being naturalized as increasing numbers of people who migrated to Germany between 2014 and 2016 fulfilled the requirements for citizenship.
Last year, 75,500 people from Syria were naturalized — the biggest single group, accounting for 38% of the total — the statistics office said. That number was up 56% compared with 2022. They had spent an average 6.8 years in Germany before becoming citizens.
About 10,700 citizens each of Turkey and Iraq became German citizens last year, putting those groups in second place.
The overall number of new citizens was the highest since current records started in 2000 following a change in the law under which people of German ancestry from the former Soviet Union, who arrived in large numbers in the 1990s, were automatically granted citizenship rather than having to apply for it.
Requirements for being granted citizenship include a working knowledge of German and proof of being able to support oneself financially.
Under the law as it was last year, people were in principle required to have lived in Germany for at least eight years, though that didn't apply to spouses and children. The period could be reduced to six years for people who show “special integration accomplishments” such as very good knowledge of the language, professional achievements or civic engagement.
Those rules are being eased under new legislation that will take effect on June 27. People will be eligible for citizenship after five years in Germany, or three in case of “special integration accomplishments." German-born children will automatically become citizens if one parent has been a legal resident for five years, down from eight years now.
Restrictions on holding dual citizenship will also be dropped. In principle, most people from countries other than European Union members and Switzerland have had to give up their previous nationality when they gained German citizenship, though there were some exemptions.
Germany has about 84 million inhabitants.
FILE - A person holds German and French, left, passports during a demonstration march to protest government plans to reform the education system, in Paris, France, Tuesday, May 19, 2015. Official data shows another big increase in the number of people gaining German citizenship last year. According to the figures released Tuesday, May 28, 2024, large numbers of people from Syria helped push naturalizations up to their highest level since at least 2000. (AP Photo/Francois Mori, File)
DETROIT (AP) — Byron Buxton hit a home run and a double, Christian Vázquez had a homer and three hits and the Minnesota Twins beat the Detroit Tigers 9-3 on Friday night.
“I think everybody put something on the table to win this game,” said Vázquez, who has three of his five homers this season against the Tigers. “When I swing at pitches at zone, I get different results. I feel good and I have confidence in myself.”
Pablo López (9-7) allowed two runs on six hits in seven innings, striking out seven.
“A lot of my stuff got better toward the end of my outing,” he said.
Tigers starter Keider Montero (1-4) allowed six runs on eight hits in five innings.
With only three healthy starters, Tigers manager A.J. Hinch had to stay with Montero even after he allowed three homers in the first two innings.
“He was going to be out there,” Hinch said. “It's not easy right now — we have been putting together some bullpen games and there are some on the horizon, so Keider had a long leash. With three solo homers, we were still in the game.”
Buxton and Trevor Larnach gave Minnesota a 2-0 lead with back-to-back homers in the first, and Matt Wallner added a home run in the second.
Javier Báez hit his second homer in as many days to make it 3-2 in the third.
“I'm feeling good at the plate,” said Báez, who is hitting .179 with three homers. “I've been working a lot to play better, and if I can stay hot, I can have a big second half.”
The Twins regained control with three runs in the fourth.
Willi Castro knocked in two with a single to left and took a big turn around the bag, prompting second baseman Colt Keith to throw to first. The Tigers were wearing their black City Connect jerseys and the only person wearing that color at first was umpire Mike Muchlinski. Keith's throw sailed into Minnesota's dugout, allowing Castro to take third. He scored on Buxton's double to left.
“That's a tough inning when we've got two out, especially after (Báez) gets us back into the game with the homer,” Hinch said. “I haven't talked to Colt, but I think that's down to inexperience — I don't think Bligh (Madris) needed to travel with the runner. He could have stayed (at first), which is probably why he was trying to get back.”
Vázquez hit a two-run homer off Joey Wentz to make it 8-2 in the sixth.
The Tigers loaded the bases with no one out in the seventh, but Gio Urshela grounded into a force at the plate before Báez and Wenceel Pérez popped out.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Twins: Activated 3B Royce Lewis (adductor strain) from the injured list and optioned C Jair Carmago to Triple-A St. Paul. Lewis came into the game hitting .292 with 10 homers and 18 RBIs in 24 games.
Tigers: Placed All-Star OF Riley Greene (hamstring) on the injured list and recalled UTL Ryan Vilade from Triple-A Toledo. Greene has been injured in each of his first three seasons, limiting him to 293 games.
UP NEXT
The teams play the second game of the series on Saturday, with Tigers ace LHP Tarik Skubal (11-3, 2.34) facing Minnesota RHP Joe Ryan (6-6, 3.65).
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton misplays the double hit by Detroit Tigers' Matt Vierling during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Minnesota Twins pitcher Caleb Thielbar throws during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Minnesota Twins' Christian Vazquez (8) is greeted at home plate after a two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Detroit Tigers pitcher Joey Wentz throws during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Detroit Tigers pitcher Will Vest throws during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Detroit Tigers' Javier Baez is greeted at home plate by Carson Kelly after Baez's two-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Detroit Tigers pitcher Joey Wentz throws during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Detroit Tigers pitcher Joey Wentz walks next to the mound as Minnesota Twins' Christian Vazquez rounds the bases after a two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Minnesota Twins' Christian Vazquez is greeted in the dugout after a two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton misplays the double hit by Detroit Tigers' Matt Vierling during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Minnesota Twins' Byron Buxton approaches home plate after a solo home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
