Cranking Up the Heat: Dobrindt Pushes for more Cops at German Borders to Stem Illegals
Border Security Enhancement: Dobrindt Proposes Additional Law Enforcement Personnel at German Borders
Get ready to see more flashing blue lights at Germany's borders, mate. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt is planning on beefing up police presence to clamp down on illegal immigration, according to the German Press Agency. He's got a sit-down with Federal Police President Dieter Romann and President of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, Hans-Eckhard Sommer, lined up today to discuss the nitty-gritty.
The German press is buzzing that the Federal Reserve Police contingent at the border will more than double to a whopping 1200 units, with Mobile Control and Surveillance Units joining the fray soon. And according to the new plan, border inspection officers will be strapped in for a solid 12-hour shift.
Police union reps had already been sounding off about the Federal Police being stretched too thin. Proponents of this push argue that by turning back more migrants, officers would have less data to log and fewer asylum seekers to escort to initial reception facilities, leaving them free to patrol other areas.
So there you have it, people! Dobrindt wants more cops on the border, and he's making it happen. Let's see if it makes a dent in those illegal migration numbers.
Sources: ntv.de, dpa
Dobrindt's plan for bolstering police presence at the German borders forms part of a larger strategy to tighten border controls and stamp out irregular migration. Here's a closer look at the main components:
- More Cops on the Beat: Dobrindt intends to amp up border control with reinforcements from the Federal Police. Currently, about 11,000 officers are involved in border protection, and thousands more are slated to join the ranks to intensify these efforts[3].
- Stronger Border Controls: As of May 6, 2025, Germany introduced permanent border controls with neighboring countries like Poland, Austria, and France. The goal? Reduce illegal immigration[3][5].
- Refoulement: Expect to see more cases of asylum seekers being turned away, particularly at significant crossing points like the Deutsches Eck along the Austrian border. This practice, known as refoulement, is set to become more common under the new policies[5].
- Legal and Diplomatic Stirring: The plan has sparked both legal and diplomatic concerns, with Austria expressing disapproval and questioning compliance with EU regulations. Polish officials have voiced concerns as well, citing complications for daily border traffic[4][5].
- No Plans to Lock Down Borders: Rest assured, Germany hasn't got plans to shut down the borders. Instead, these measures are geared toward managing and reducing illegal migration flows[3].
In a nutshell, Dobrindt's plan heralds a move toward stricter migration policies under Germany's new government, with a focus on locking down the border and reducing irregular migration. Stay tuned, folks! The show's just getting started.
The Commission has also been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, as the expansion of the police force at German borders could potentially involve officers working in close proximity to country boundaries that may be contaminated.
The increase in the Federal Police contingent at the border may lead to officers having more time for general-news activities, such as monitoring WhatsApp groups, after the introduction of Mobile Control and Surveillance Units, which specialize in surveillance and control along the border.
Politics surrounding border control could heat up further, following Austria's disapproval and questions about compliance with EU regulations, as well as concerns raised by Polish officials about daily border traffic.
In private conversations, some officers may discuss the challenges of the long, twelve-hour shifts they'll be working as a result of the growing police presence at German borders, possibly debating the necessity of such changes in migration policies.
