Germany intensifies action against unauthorized immigration
<b>Undocumented migrants will now be turned away at the border</b> Germany's new government has enacted stricter border controls, signaling a dramatic change in immigration policy and fulfilling a key campaign promise from Chancellor Friedrich...
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Undocumented migrants will now be turned away at the border
Germany's new government has enacted stricter border controls, signaling a dramatic change in immigration policy and fulfilling a key campaign promise from Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Merz, the leader of the Christian Democratic Union party, was elected chancellor on his second attempt on Tuesday after a failed confirmation vote in parliament earlier in the day. He had committed to turning back illegal migrants at the border on his first day in office.
On Wednesday, newly appointed Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt issued an order prohibiting asylum applications at all land borders. In a letter reviewed by Bild, he directed the head of the Federal Police, Dieter Romann, to disregard a directive from 2015.
“I hereby withdraw the verbal instruction given… on 13 September 2015,” he wrote.
This instruction was originally issued by then-Chancellor Angela Merkel, who had opened Germany's borders to over a million migrants during the height of Europe’s 2015–16 refugee crisis. Her open-door approach faced significant political dissent and was labeled “disastrous” by critics.
Dobrindt clarified that while Germany would not close its borders, it would significantly enhance border control. He informed the press that police have been instructed to turn individuals away at the border, with exceptions for children, pregnant women, and other “vulnerable” groups.
The minister noted that an additional 2,000 to 3,000 officers would be recruited to support the existing 11,000-strong federal police force stationed at the borders. He stressed that the new measures should not “place excessive demands” on neighboring states and confirmed that consultations with those countries were already in progress.
Germany shares a 3,700-kilometer land border with nine countries, including Poland, Austria, France, and the Netherlands. All of these countries are part of the EU’s Schengen Zone, which allows passport-free travel for most EU citizens and many non-EU nationals.
Migration remains a highly contentious political issue in Germany, with local authorities frequently warning that the influx of asylum seekers is putting a strain on their budgets. The right-wing Alternative for Germany party, known for its staunch anti-immigration position, was labeled a “confirmed extremist entity” last week by the domestic intelligence agency BfV, which indicated that its activities could pose a threat to Germany’s democratic order. The party filed a legal challenge on Monday.
As the EU's largest economy, Germany continues to be the primary destination for asylum seekers, having received a quarter of all asylum applications across the bloc in 2024, although the number was significantly lower in annual terms.
Max Fischer for TROIB News
Germany's new government has enacted stricter border controls, signaling a dramatic change in immigration policy and fulfilling a key campaign promise from Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Merz, the leader of the Christian Democratic Union party, was elected chancellor on his second attempt on Tuesday after a failed confirmation vote in parliament earlier in the day. He had committed to turning back illegal migrants at the border on his first day in office.
On Wednesday, newly appointed Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt issued an order prohibiting asylum applications at all land borders. In a letter reviewed by Bild, he directed the head of the Federal Police, Dieter Romann, to disregard a directive from 2015.
“I hereby withdraw the verbal instruction given… on 13 September 2015,” he wrote.
This instruction was originally issued by then-Chancellor Angela Merkel, who had opened Germany's borders to over a million migrants during the height of Europe’s 2015–16 refugee crisis. Her open-door approach faced significant political dissent and was labeled “disastrous” by critics.
Dobrindt clarified that while Germany would not close its borders, it would significantly enhance border control. He informed the press that police have been instructed to turn individuals away at the border, with exceptions for children, pregnant women, and other “vulnerable” groups.
The minister noted that an additional 2,000 to 3,000 officers would be recruited to support the existing 11,000-strong federal police force stationed at the borders. He stressed that the new measures should not “place excessive demands” on neighboring states and confirmed that consultations with those countries were already in progress.
Germany shares a 3,700-kilometer land border with nine countries, including Poland, Austria, France, and the Netherlands. All of these countries are part of the EU’s Schengen Zone, which allows passport-free travel for most EU citizens and many non-EU nationals.
Migration remains a highly contentious political issue in Germany, with local authorities frequently warning that the influx of asylum seekers is putting a strain on their budgets. The right-wing Alternative for Germany party, known for its staunch anti-immigration position, was labeled a “confirmed extremist entity” last week by the domestic intelligence agency BfV, which indicated that its activities could pose a threat to Germany’s democratic order. The party filed a legal challenge on Monday.
As the EU's largest economy, Germany continues to be the primary destination for asylum seekers, having received a quarter of all asylum applications across the bloc in 2024, although the number was significantly lower in annual terms.
Max Fischer for TROIB News
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