German lawmakers approved on Friday a package of security and immigration measures proposed by Chancellor Olaf Scholz's centre-left coalition in response to suspected Islamist attacks earlier this year.
The plan includes a general ban on knives at public events, restrictions on asylum seekers and further powers for criminal police in terrorism investigations.
The series of measures passed in the Bundestag, Germany's lower house, but some require additional approval from the upper house, the Bundesrat, in votes due to be held later on Friday.
Under the new law, asylum seekers obliged to leave the country may have their benefits cut if another European Union member is responsible for them under the EU's so-called Dublin rules and there are no obstacles to their departure. Exceptions are to be made if children are affected.
In terrorism investigations, a comparison of biometric data on the internet is to be made possible, provided that the president of the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) gets court approval.
In some emergencies, however, top BKA officials can temporarily grant themselves those powers for up to three days without going to court.
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser meanwhile praised the extension of restrictions on the carrying of knives at public events such as festivals and sporting events.
"We are banning knives at public events and enabling states to enact more extensive knife bans," she said.
Measures pass despite opposition
The three-party coalition of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD), the Greens and pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) initiated the new security proposal after a series of terrorist incidents over the summer.
Prime among them was a deadly knife attack at a local festival in the western German city of Solingen in late August which left three people dead.
The suspect, a 26-year-old Syrian citizen, is believed to have acted out of Islamist extremist motives. He had evaded an order to be deported from Germany to Bulgaria, prompting renewed debate over Germany's handling of asylum seekers and other migrants.
The opposition centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU) said the coalition's migration restrictions did not go far enough. Lawmaker Alexander Throm said the package would be "largely ineffective."
There was also criticism of the coalition's plans from within parts of the SPD and the Greens, partly due to stricter measures in the area of migration.
The refugee advocacy group Pro Asyl condemned the plan, warning it would "lead to deliberately induced homelessness and destitution among those seeking protection" in Germany.
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