Germany tightens controls at all borders in immigration crackdown
1. Government has also designed scheme enabling authorities to reject migrants directly at German borders
Germany's government has announced plans to implement stricter controls at all of its land borders, aiming to address irregular migration and safeguard public security from threats such as extremism.
Starting September 16, these controls will be enforced within the typically free-moving European Schengen zone and will initially last for six months, according to Interior Minister Nancy Faeser. She also mentioned a new scheme that could allow authorities to reject more migrants directly at German borders, though she did not provide further details on this controversial measure.
These restrictions are part of Germany's broader strategy to address irregular migration, particularly in response to a surge in arrivals from regions affected by conflict and poverty, such as the Middle East. Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government is working to reclaim the initiative from the far-right and conservative opposition, who have gained support by addressing voter concerns over public services, integration, and security.
Faeser emphasized the government's commitment to enhancing internal security and continuing its tough stance on irregular migration. She noted that the European Commission and neighboring countries have been informed of the planned controls.
Recent violent incidents involving asylum seekers, including a deadly knife attack claimed by Daesh in Solingen, have heightened immigration concerns. The far-right AfD party recently won a state election in Thuringia, campaigning heavily on migration issues, and polls show migration as a top concern in Brandenburg, which will hold elections soon.
Faeser and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) are fighting to maintain control in Brandenburg, a crucial test ahead of next year’s federal election.
Marcus Engler from the German Centre for Integration and Migration Research commented that the government’s move may be seen as a symbolic gesture to signal to both Germans and potential migrants that Germany is no longer open to new arrivals.
The backlash against migration in Germany has grown since the 2015/2016 crisis, when the country accepted over a million refugees, and more recently with the influx of Ukrainians fleeing the 2022 Russian invasion. In response, Germany has implemented stricter deportation rules and resumed deportations of Afghan nationals despite previous suspensions.
In addition to tighter controls on borders with Poland, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland, Germany has managed to return 30,000 migrants since October 2023. Faeser indicated that the new model would increase the number of migrants sent back, though details remain confidential.
These measures could test European unity, potentially leading to requests for other countries to accept more asylum seekers. Under EU rules, Schengen area countries are allowed to impose border checks only as a last resort to protect internal security or public policy.
Germany's extensive land borders include Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Switzerland, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Poland. Austria’s Interior Minister Gerhard Karner has stated that Austria will not accept migrants turned away by Germany.
The new measures may not immediately result in a significant increase in migrants being turned away but could lead to more returns to other European countries and serve as a deterrent, according to Susan Fratzke of the Migration Policy Institute. Asylum applications in Germany have already decreased by 21.7% in the first eight months of the year, according to government statistics.
