Assimilation and Intermarriage

Abstract

As noted earlier, the issues of intermarriage and immigration policies gained national attention in Denmark with the publication of journalist Ralf Christensen’s op-ed piece on his personal and negative experiences with Danish Immigration Services in August 2012. After much publicity and greater scrutiny of the processes associated with applying for family reunification visas, Ralf and Merih eventually prevailed and were awarded the visa upon appeal based on European Union (EU) laws associated with family reunification. Their story, which went viral both domestically and internationally, exposed an invisible and often-unjust side effect of the recent restrictive legislative changes to Danish immigration law and social policy. Unfortunately, Ralf and Merih Christensen’s story is becoming more commonplace as increasingly restrictive immigration laws and social policies are making it quite difficult for third-country nationals to marry native or ethnic Danes and reside in Denmark.