Hesse's Call for Expanded Federal Police Powers in Immigration Control
Demands Expanded Role for Federal Police, According to Poseck - Federal Police advocate requests strengthened authorities
In the war against unauthorized immigration, Hesse pushes for the Federal Police to shoulder more duties within Germany, as stated by Roman Poseck, the Interior Minister of Hesse. During the screening process for asylum seekers, Poseck argues that the Federal Police should be responsible for identifying individuals, checking their residential status, determining their need for protection, and even conducting security and health assessments. This includes recording fingerprints in the Eurodac database.
This demand is linked to the implementation of the screening regulation, a component of the reform of the common European asylum system, primarily focusing on the identification of people entering the European Union irregularly at its borders.
The Role of Federal Police in Hesse
According to Poseck, the Federal Police should also apply the screening process to individuals who have entered the country illegally but have yet to undergo the initial border screening. Poseck explains that the Federal Police possesses the necessary tools and experience for this task, and has had the authority to take fingerprints and palm prints of illegal entrants or residents since 2019.
The screening process is primarily utilized for border control and is therefore identified as an essential step towards increased security, as per Poseck. Although Hesse lacks land borders with other countries, it houses the country's largest airport in Frankfurt.
Poseck on Decreasing Asylum Seekers
Poseck commends the tougher stance of the new black-red federal government at Germany's borders, attributing the decrease in refugee arrival to this strategy. "In May, 595 asylum seekers arrived in Hesse. Compared to April, that's 115 fewer, a decrease of 16 percent. The difference to last year is even more striking. In May 2024, 1,181 people sought asylum in Hesse; compared to the previous year, we have seen a decrease of almost 50 percent."
- Federal Police
- Hesse
- Roman Poseck
- Migration
- Responsibility
- Border Control
- Wiesbaden
- CDU
- Interior Ministers' Conference
- Bremerhaven
[1): Article on Islamist terror threats in Germany[2): News piece on the need for cyber security]
Federal Police, under the leadership of Interior Minister Roman Poseck of Hesse, are advocating for extended powers to tackle unauthorized immigration, particularly in the areas of identifying individuals, checking residential status, and conducting security and health assessments on asylum seekers. This move is linked to the implementation of a border screening regulation, part of Europe's asylum system reform.
Poseck further proposes that the Federal Police should extend the screening process to individuals who have entered the country illegally, recognizing their competency and necessary authority for such tasks, position they have held since 2019. Despite Hesse lacking land borders, its large airport in Frankfurt makes this expanded role crucial for border control.
