Dobrindt Stands Firm on Border Controls: "Effective Measure, No Need for Change"
Border controls are effective, thus we persist in their application, states Dobrindt. - Border controls are effective, hence their continuous implementation, asserts Dobrindt.
Alexander Dobrindt, the Interior Minister, declared that his team's "motto is rejection and cooperation with partners." He spoke during a fierce debate about the proposed suspension of family reunification for refugees without asylum status, which was a hot topic in the Bundestag on Friday.
The Berlin Administrative Court had sided with three individuals from Somalia earlier in the week, who had challenged their rejection without an asylum procedure. The court ruled that the rejections were unlawful. Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) and Dobrindt showed no signs of wavering from their hardline migration policy following the court ruling.
Since the implementation of border controls, there has been a drop in asylum applications, according to Dobrindt. He made these remarks during the Bundestag meeting on Friday. However, he reiterated that this measure should only serve as a temporary solution. He had already emphasized this when the measures were ordered at the beginning of May.
Dobrindt also spoke out against any verbal attacks on the Berlin court. "It's unacceptable if judges in Germany are threatened," said the minister in the Bundestag. A spokesperson for Dobrindt added, "It's completely unacceptable if judges in Germany are threatened."
Criticism of court decisions is protected under freedom of speech, Vice-Government Spokesman Steffen Meyer explained. However, Meyer continued, "the line is crossed when judges are personally defamed and threatened." Meyer, along with the Ministry of Justice, strongly condemned any attacks on the court.
Meanwhile, the head of the "Ask the State" platform, Arne Semsrott, accused Dobrindt of "open lawbreaking." He referenced instructions given to the Federal Police to turn back asylum seekers at the border without following the proper legal procedures. There hasn't been any official complaint registered yet, according to the public prosecutor's office in Berlin.
- Alexander Dobrindt
- Border Control
- Bundestag
- Rejection
- CSU
- Court Ruling
- Berlin
- Administrative Court
- Somalia
- Friedrich Merz
- CDU
Background:The ongoing legal dispute centers on Germany's border controls and asylum rejections, following a recent ruling by the Berlin Administrative Court. The court declared that the government cannot reject asylum seekers at the border without first applying the EU's Dublin procedure to determine the responsible member state for processing the claim.
Key Aspects of the Dispute:
- Court Ruling: The Berlin Administrative Court ruled that Germany must follow the Dublin procedure before rejecting asylum seekers at the border. The ruling came in response to an urgent appeal by three Somali citizens who were turned back at the Frankfurt (Oder) border station after applying for asylum.
- Government Policy: The government, led by Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, has pursued a stricter migration policy since taking office in May, instructing border police to reject asylum seekers unless they are considered vulnerable.
- Legal Challenge: The court’s decision poses a challenge to the government's policy, as Germany must now apply the Dublin procedure before any rejection can be considered lawful.
Implications:The dispute has sparked debate about the balance between national sovereignty in migration policy and adherence to EU and international law. The outcome of the legal dispute remains uncertain, with the government maintaining its hardline stance on border controls while the court insists on adherence to EU asylum procedures.
- In response to the Berlin Administrative Court's ruling, the Commission has decided to initiate the procedure provided for in Article 93 (2) of the Treaty, as the policy-and-legislation surrounding border controls and asylum rejections remains a hot topic in politics, particularly within the Bundestag.
- As the dispute between the government and the Berlin Administrative Court continues, general-news outlets are closely monitoring the development as the implications of the balance between national sovereignty in migration policy and adherence to EU and international law are becoming increasingly relevant, with Alexander Dobrindt standing firm on the current border control measures implemented by his team.
