When it comes to immigration law, the governments are primarily the point of contact for the immigration authorities at the district offices and independent cities (district administrative authorities) in their administrative district and advise them on all issues relating to the enforcement of immigration law. They are thus responsible for ensuring that the requirements of the state government are implemented locally.

As supervisory authorities, they also perform control and bundling functions and process complaints and submissions. They are therefore the interface between the immigration authorities and the state government.

The specialist area of responsibility within the framework of aliens and asylum law includes, among other things

• Matters relating to foreigners, including passport and identity card matters for foreigners
• asylum law
• interstate settlement law.

This ultimately covers all issues relating to the residence of persons without German citizenship in Germany. This includes controlling the influx of foreigners by regulating entry, residence, employment and integration in accordance with the Residence Act. It also includes the enforcement of the right to freedom of movement for EU citizens and the enforcement of the Association Agreement with Turkey.

In the area of asylum law, the governments also supervise the immigration authorities at the district administrative authorities.

The Central Aliens Authorities located at the governments also play a special role. In particular, they are responsible for

• Performing tasks under aliens law for asylum seekers in the reception center for asylum seekers or rejected asylum seekers from various countries of origin (including decisions on residence permits, toleration, training and employment permits),
• establishing and securing the identity of foreigners by means of interviews,
• return counseling and return assistance and
• the implementation of measures to terminate residence.