Chaos at the Border: Ombudsman Blasts Dobrindt for Lack of Legal Clarity
Border control officer advocates for clear legal guidelines when dealing with travelers who refuse entry
In the midst of the heated debate over the treatment of asylum seekers at Germany's borders, Police Ombudsman Uli Grotch is demanding Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) to establish some legal ground for border control agents. "Let's get this straight - the border control guards can't be hanged out to dry," Grotch ranted in a spat with "Rheinische Post". Dobrindt remains unfazed, praising the current border rejections as a positive development.
The controversy started when the Berlin Administrative Court declared the rejection of three Somalis at the German-Polish border as illegal in an emergency hearing. Although this ruling only applies to these three individuals, it's ignited a firestorm in the migration policy arena. Tightened border controls and the denial of entry to asylum seekers from other EU countries have become cornerstone policies of the newly elected government.
Grotch weighed in on the court's decision, stating, "I may not be a lawyer, but I ain't a damn rocket scientist either. The Executive and Judiciary are apparently on different pages here, and it's high time we sorted this mess out. Law enforcement personnel deserve some legal basis for their actions, not a bunch of vague orders and conflicting judgments." He warned, "The superior authority is damn well supposed to provide clear directions and a solid legal foundation for these rejections."
Despite the Berlin court's interim decision, Dobrindt insists on carrying forward with the rejections of asylum seekers at the borders. "I'm confident we're complying with European law with our measures," he retorted in a feud with the Funke media group's Saturday Edition. "The European Court of Justice should be the one to decide on this." He argued that overburdened municipalities and the need to preserve public order necessitated these border controls. Dobrindt directed federal police to reject asylum seekers at the borders a month ago, with a few exceptions. Since then, there have been a total of 3,278 rejections, he revealed to the Funke papers. "That includes 160 folks who applied for asylum."
During the interview, the minister reiterated his call for outsourcing asylum procedures to third countries outside the EU. "We need to nip the smuggling rings in the bud, and these third-country models are like antibiotics for that," he said in typical Dobrindt fashion. "I'm all for it." He aims to eradicate border checks within the EU once the external borders are secure.
Behind the Scenes:
The legal landscape of border rejections for asylum seekers in Germany is murky, involving government policies and recent court rulings.1. Government Policy: The German government has been musclebound on tightening border controls, aiming to deny entry to many asylum seekers. This entails increased checks at the border and refusing entry to irregular migrants[1][2].2. Court Ruling: The Berlin court has declared that refusing entry to asylum seekers found on German territory during border controls is illegal under EU law. This decision has sparked a debate over the government's border policies[3][4].3. Government Response: Dobrindt has rebuffed the court ruling and continues to enforce the policy of turning away asylum seekers at the borders. This stance reflects a conflict between the government's migration policies and the court's interpretations of the law[4].4. Calls for Legal Certainty: Grotch has requested clear legal guidelines to address the uncertainty created by the conflicting government policies and court decisions, ensuring consistency in border rejections.
- The ongoing debate about asylum seekers at Germany's borders has led to a demand for policy clarity from the Federal Interior Minister, Alexander Dobrindt, as called for by the Police Ombudsman, Uli Grotch, who emphasizes the need for legal ground for border control agents.
- The motivation behind the tightened border controls and the denial of entry to asylum seekers from other EU countries, policies now cornerstones of the new government, has been challenged by the Berlin Administrative Court's ruling against the rejection of three Somalis at the German-Polish border, a decision that triggers discussions within the policy-and-legislation arena.
- Amid these war-and-conflicts-driven migratory movements, calls for legal certainty revolve around vocational training for law enforcement personnel to handle the complexities of both everyday general-news scenarios and crime-and-justice cases such as these, streaming the need for policy adjustments and the involvement of politics to find a solution.
