Enhancing border controls in Germany as part of an intensified migration clampdown
Germany's border controls, initially introduced last year under the previous government, have been extended beyond the September 2025 deadline. These measures, aimed at curbing irregular migration, have faced criticism for contradicting the Schengen Agreement's open borders principle.
The stricter border controls have resulted in the refusal of entry to thousands of migrants at Germany's borders. In the period between May 8 and July 31 alone, 9,254 people were turned back. The majority of these cases were from Afghanistan, with Poland, Switzerland, Austria, and France also reporting notable numbers of rejections.
The focus of Germany's immigration policy under Chancellor Friedrich Merz has been on deporting rejected asylum seekers, particularly criminals. In July 2025, 81 Afghan men were deported to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, despite international and UN human rights concerns about the security situation and risks of persecution there. Plans for further deportations to Syria, despite ongoing violence and abuses, have also been announced.
The tightening of border checks was further escalated when Merz's government took power in early May. Neighboring countries and human rights organizations have criticized Germany’s measures for undermining EU free movement and asylum obligations. Amnesty International, for example, criticized the deportations to Afghanistan, citing the "catastrophic" situation in the country and the prevalence of human rights abuses.
Despite the criticism, Germany remains in agreement with its European partners that these border controls are necessary until the EU external border protection system is fully operational. The number of federal police deployed daily at the borders has been increased to 14,000 from 11,000.
The conservative AfD party, which advocates for a tough stance on immigration, scored a record 20 percent in the February election. The party's rise in popularity can be attributed, in part, to the party's stance on immigration and border control.
In summary, Germany's stricter border regime remains firmly in place with serious implications for migrants, deportees, and European border policy cohesion. The continued focus on deporting rejected asylum seekers, particularly criminals, to potentially dangerous countries such as Afghanistan and Syria, raises ethical and humanitarian concerns.
Migration, driven by war-and-conflicts and politics, remains a contentious issue in Germany, as stricter border controls have led to the refusal of entry for thousands of migrants. These measures, criticized for undermining EU free movement and asylum obligations, have been intensified under Chancellor Friedrich Merz, with a focus on deporting criminals and rejected asylum seekers. In the realm of general news and crime-and-justice, the controversial deportation of 81 Afghan men to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan and potential further deportations to Syria have sparked international and UN human rights concerns.
