By Christine Stenner, German Attorney at Stenner Law| Foreign Legal Consultant (PA) | January 28, 2026
The report describes a sharp rise in the number of Jewish New Yorkers applying for German citizenship as descendants of people persecuted under the Nazi regime. These applications are filed under Germany’s constitutional restitution provisions and have increased significantly in recent years.
At a naturalization ceremony at the German Consulate General in New York, 81 people were naturalized in a single day. Many applicants cited both Germany’s formal acknowledgment of historical responsibility and the current political climate in the United States as key reasons for their decision.
One applicant described receiving a message from German authorities apologizing for the crimes committed against her family during the Nazi era as deeply moving. According to the report, she said it felt “as if someone had reached out their hand to me.” She also emphasized that the consequences of persecution extended far beyond the survivor generation and shaped her entire upbringing.
Another newly naturalized citizen pointed to rising antisemitism in the United States as a decisive factor. The report cites FBI data showing that nearly 70 percent of all religiously motivated hate crimes in the United States in 2024 targeted Jews. She was quoted as saying, “It is good to have a safety net,” noting that earlier generations could never have imagined their grandchildren might seek protection by returning to Europe.
A further applicant described the process as a historical irony. According to the broadcast, he said it was “very moving”that the country his family once had to flee now openly welcomes their descendants, adding that Germany currently appears more open, at least on an official level, than the United States.
The numbers reflect this trend. In 2025, 1,771 restitution based citizenship applications were submitted to the German Consulate in New York. By comparison, there were 894 applications in 2023 and 734 in 2022. Demand has risen again since 2024, potentially influenced by the political climate in the United States and by Germany’s updated citizenship law, which now allows United States citizens to retain their American passport.
The Tagesschau report makes clear that for many applicants, German citizenship is not merely a legal status, but a form of recognition, security, and a symbolic closing of a historical circle.
If you are considering an application under these restitution provisions, Stenner Law focuses specifically on these cases, including complex family histories and historical documentation. Consultations can be booked to assess eligibility and determine next steps. Book a consultation with Attorney Christine Stenner here.
About the author
Christine Stenner is a German attorney with 30 years of experience. She is admitted to practice German law in the United States and focuses exclusively on German citizenship law for clients in the United States. At STENNER LAW, she assists applicants with restoring or reclaiming German citizenship through declaration, re-naturalization, and restitution-based applications.
