Tougher Asylum Rules at Germany's Borders: What You Need to Know
Enhanced Border Control Measures: Implications and Changes at Entry Points
migration, immigration, asylum policy, border rejections, federal government, Friedrich Merz, Alexander Dobrindt
Get ready for a shift in Germany's asylum policy as the new government, led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, introduced stricter rules effective May 6, 2025. A key change? Most asylum seekers attempting to enter Germany irregularly will be rejected at the border.
Let's break it down:
Key Aspects of the New Asylum Rules
- Border Rejections Galore: Border police have been instructed to turn away the majority of asylum seekers at entry points, with exceptions for vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women, children, and other special cases.
- Supercharged Border Controls: The government is beefing up border security by adding 2,000 to 3,000 officers to the existing 11,000 border guards to enforce these new rules more effectively.
- Working Together with EU Neighbors: Germany aims to work closely with other EU countries to reject asylum seekers at common borders, reinforcing the principle of applying for asylum in the first EU country entered.
- Integration with EU Asylum System: The new policy aligns Germany's asylum procedures more closely with the EU's Dublin Regulation, which mandates that asylum seekers apply for asylum in the first EU member state they arrive in.
Changes from Previous Policies Under Chancellor Merkel
Under Chancellor Angela Merkel, especially during the 2015 refugee crisis, Germany adopted a more open asylum policy, allowing large numbers of refugees to enter and apply for asylum. There was no formal instruction to reject asylum seekers outright at the border as a general rule. In contrast, Merkel’s government focused on processing applications within Germany with a focus on humanitarian acceptance and integration rather than strict border enforcement.
After a significant policy shift, Germany's asylum policy now prioritizes border control, quick rejection of most asylum seekers at entry points, and adherence to EU-wide asylum rules. This policy change is aimed at reducing the number of asylum seekers entering Germany while sending a clear political signal that Germany's asylum policy has changed drastically.
- The spokeswoman for the federal government confirmed the implementation of a new employment policy within the Ministries, where officials have been instructed to follow the stricter asylum policy guidelines at all borders.
- Under the new policy, there is a hope that by adhering to general-news procedures at the borders, the government can reasonably expect a reduction in the number of border rejections and subsequent employment of qualified border control officers.
- Critics of the new policy argue that the strict border control measures may lead to disagreements and crime-and-justice between EU member states, as the new policy demonstrates a significant departure from previous employment policy practices of cooperative politics.
- On May 6, 2025, the overall employment policy within border control in Germany is expected to dramatically shift toward a system focusing on the rejection of asylum seekers at borders, exemplifying a concern for the local community's safety and security.
