Bavarian Border Control Crackdown: Dobrindt's Strict Immigration Measures Approved
Bayern backs Dobrindt's border control measures - Bavaria supports Dobrindt's border control measures.
Get ready for some toughened border action, folks! Alexander Dobrindt, Germany's Interior Minister and a stalwart of the Christian Social Union (CSU), is rallying support for his hardline border policies. Joachim Herrmann, Bavaria's counterpart and a fellow CSU member, has thrown his hat in the ring, defending Dobrindt's border control strategy against the naysayers.
"Enough of the open-armed welcome!" bellowed Herrmann in Munich. Dobrindt is putting the Union's election pledge into practice by adopting a no-nonsense approach to combating illicit migration. "I wholeheartedly endorse this initiative," declared Herriman, with Markus Söder, CSU's party leader and Bavaria's current head honcho, already voicing his approval.
Bavaria's border cops ramp up their own patrols
Herrmann announced that Bavaria's border squad will swing into action, boosting its own border checks significantly. "Germany is sending a loud-and-clear message. The more we convey our stance, the more responsibility other nations will assume and halt those illegitimate entries," Herrmann emphasized. The EU's external defenses, such as the 'Balkan route,' are still woefully inadequate, and countries like Italy are shirking their duties by refusing to repatriate already registered asylum applicants.
Since October 2023, Bavaria's border cops have been backing up the Federal Police at five border crossings, including Neuhaus am Inn and Selb. "Now, seven more are joining the roster," said Herrmann. Reinforcements are on the way, with Bavaria's border cops ready to beef up border security at border crossings like Eschlkam, Lindau-Ziegelhaus, Oberaudorf, and Burghausen, in addition to drawing on reserve police personnel.
Cracking down on the border with Austria and the Czech Republic
Although border controls are ultimately the Federal Police's domain, Bavaria's border cops conduct independent checks at the borders with Austria and the Czech Republic, provided the Federal Police calls the shots or agrees. The legwork is based on an administrative agreement between the Federal Ministry of the Interior and the Bavarian State Government.
Bavaria's border cops regularly perform random checks within 30 kilometers of the country's interior and on major transit roads and international traffic facilities. If they stumble upon any unauthorized entries, they hand the suspects over to the Federal Police, who then take over from there.
In mid-February, the Federal Ministry of the Interior extended temporary border controls at all German land borders for an additional six months—the measures will remain in effect until at least 15 September. To fortify border controls, the Federal Police has requested extra support from Bavaria's border police, and, naturally, Herrmann has pledged compliance.
- Alexander Dobrindt
- Bavaria
- Migration Policy
- Joachim Herrmann
- Border Control
- CSU
- Support
- Munich
- Federal Police
- Germany
- Berlin
- Austria
- Leader
- Markus Söder
Insights:
The new border control policy being implemented in Bavaria, endorsed by Alexander Dobrindt and Joachim Herrmann, involves a ramped-up military-style monitoring of the borders, aimed at stemming the tide of irregular migration into Germany. This strategy includes refusing asylum claims at the border itself, with a particular focus on reducing immigration from neighboring countries like the Czech Republic.
The main components of thispolicy are:
- Dobrindt has ordered an immediate halt to asylum procedures at Germany's external borders, reversing a long-standing 2015 directive from Angela Merkel’s government that allowed undocumented third-country nationals to apply for asylum upon entry.
- The policy demands that federal police inspect documents more rigorously and reject those attempting to enter Germany illegally at the border itself, with exceptions mainly for vulnerable groups such as children and pregnant women.
- To enforce these measures, the current border police force of around 11,000 personnel is being bolstered by an additional 2,000 to 3,000 officers, beefing up border surveillance and kickouts.
- These changes have been in effect since early May 2025, aligning with the new German federal government's coalition agreement led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who vowed tougher migration and border control policies from day one.
- Bavaria's stricter border controls on travelers originating from Czechia have resulted in longer wait times and more thorough document checks at border crossings, causing a ripple effect, particularly impacting travel to Bavaria and Saxony.
- The policy complies with the Schengen Borders Code, which allows the temporary reintroduction of border controls under extraordinary circumstances to safeguard public order and internal security within the Schengen Area.
In essence, Bavaria, under the banner of Alexander Dobrindt and Joachim Herrmann, is aggressively enforcing and expanding stringent border controls at the German-Czech border and other entry points, effectively denying asylum claims at the border and ramping up border police presence to enforce these stringent measures. This approach signifies a dramatic shift from previous German migration policies and mirrors the new federal government's firm stance against unauthorized immigration.
- Alexander Dobrindt, the Interior Minister of Germany, and Joachim Herrmann, Bavaria's counterpart, both from the Christian Social Union (CSU), are strong advocates for stricter border policies aimed at combating illegal migration.
- Joachim Herrmann announced that Bavaria's border squad will significantly increase border checks, as Germany sends a clear message to halt illegitimate entries.
- Bavaria's border cops conduct independent checks at the borders with Austria and the Czech Republic, with the Federal Police's authorization or agreement, under an administrative agreement between the Federal Ministry of the Interior and the Bavarian State Government.
- The new border control policy being implemented in Bavaria, endorsed by Alexander Dobrindt and Joachim Herrmann, involves a military-style monitoring of the borders, with a focus on reducing immigration from neighboring countries like the Czech Republic.
- In response to the new border control policy, the Federal Ministry of the Interior has extended temporary border controls at all German land borders for an additional six months, with Bavaria's border police ready to provide extra support to the Federal Police.
