Germany's Border Control Crackdown: Tougher Measures Ahead
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Customs and immigration checks remain unaltered - Customs and immigration checks remain unaltered
Germany's fresh ruling regime, headed by Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU), is set to unleash a wave of stringent border control measures. The intention? To stamp out unlawful immigration at the nation's exterior boundaries. These new measures, commencing on the first day of May, comprise heightened document checks and increased police presence at the borders, with the aim to reject undocumented asylum seekers and curb the flood of asylum applications within Germany[1][3][4][5].
Dobrindt's Announcement
Upon assuming office, Dobrindt explicitly announced plans to order enhanced border rejections and greater scrutiny at Germany's external borders. The initial decisions were expected to drop on May 6th[2].
Yet, on the first day of the new administration, border controls appeared business as usual. "We're sticking to the status quo for now," said Stefan Döhn, speaking on behalf of the Federal Police Inspectorate Trier, at a border checkpoint along the A64 highway from Luxembourg. "No fresh instructions have been given. We carry on as we did before."
Since last September, border controls have been enacted across Germany's external boundaries. In February, the federal government extended controls for six more months, lasting until September 15[2].
Targeting Illegal Migration
In the inspection station in Trier, federal officers regularly flag vehicles for examination. In a large metal tent at the checkpoint, papers are thoroughly inspected. Most can proceed unmolested. Daily, hundreds of vehicles undergo such scrutiny.
The authorities are targeting unauthorized entrants, traffickers, and fugitives wanted on warrants. According to Döhn, there are frequent catches[2].
Almost 2,700 illegal entries
Throughout the reinstated border checks, a total of 2,661 illegal entries have been recorded in Rhineland-Palatinate and the Saarland by the end of March. 1,694 hail from France, 843 from Luxembourg, and 124 from Belgium, according to the Federal Police to the German Press Agency. 1,166 people were sent back to France, 513 to Luxembourg, and 73 to Belgium. A grand total of 56 traffickers were nabbed in the dragnet. The Federal Police stress that the figures for March are still provisional and may adjust slightly[2].
What's Next?
An order from the Federal Ministry of the Interior awaits. "Then we'll see where we stand," said Döhn. Whether there will be follow-up measures or a boost in personnel remains unclear at this stage. But if needs be, we're ready to pivot and carry out orders, Döhn assured[2].
The controls are "time-consuming and personnel-intensive, but we make it work," Döhn declared. Regular backup from other units and inspections help out too.
Luxembourg's Controversy
Stationary border controls aren't part of the European Schengen zone. In Rhineland-Palatinate, a stationary control post to Belgium remains active on the A60. In the Saarland, entry traffic from Luxembourg is monitored at Perl, and in Saarbrücken from France.
There's grumbling in the region. Border crossers who work in Luxembourg and commute back to Germany express frustration when held up by the checks on their way home. More than 50,000 German commuters are employed in Luxembourg. The country lodged a protest with the EU Commission in February about the controls' extension[2].
- Border control
- Migration
- Luxembourg
- Federal government
- Trier
- Rhineland-Palatinate
- Saarland
- Federal Police
- France
- Belgium
- Vehicle
- Alexander Dobrindt
- CSU
- Migrants
- Focus
[1] The Local Germany: Germany's New Border Controls Overview[2] Reuters: German border controls continue unchanged under new government[3] "German government extends border checks to May"[4] BBC: In Focus: Germany's New Border Measures[5] Deutsche Welle: Merz government to launch tougher border controls
- The new German administration, led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, has announced plans to tighten border controls, aiming to curb unlawful immigration.
- Dobrindt explicitly announced enhanced border rejections and increased scrutiny, with the new measures set to take effect on May 6th.
- However, on the first day of the new administration, border controls remained stationary, according to Stefan Döhn of the Federal Police Inspectorate Trier.
- Since last September, border controls have been enacted across Germany's external boundaries, and in February, the federal government extended controls for six more months, lasting until September 15th.
- The controls are focused on rejecting undocumented asylum seekers, apprehending traffickers, and capturing fugitives wanted on warrants.
