Unprecedented Surge in Unauthorized Border Crossings in 2023
Germany has seen a significant rise in unauthorized refugees entering the country this year, surpassing previous years' figures with the highest number of unauthorized entries since 2015.
According to the Federal Police Headquarters in Potsdam, there were 112,178 unauthorized entries from January to October this year. In comparison, the entirety of 2022 saw almost 92,000 unauthorized refugee entries. This trend, however, saw an unexpected break in October, marking a halt to the upward trajectory. Still, the significant increase in unauthorized entry this year puts it on par with the peak of the refugee crisis in 2015, which registered around 217,000 unauthorized entries.
Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) took action by implementing stationary border controls at Germany's borders with Poland, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland for ten days in October. As concerns regarding the rise in unauthorized entries continued, these controls were extended multiple times.
Prior to October, the number of unauthorized refugees entering Germany steadily increased from February, with a sharp rise in September and October. The Federal Police recorded 14,701 unauthorized entries in August, which more than doubled to 21,366 in September. By October, this number had risen yet again to 20,059, suggesting a significant uptick in unauthorized migration during the latter half of the year.
The increase in asylum applications in Germany has also been noteworthy, with around 267,000 individuals submitting their first asylum application between January and October 2023. This number represents a significant 67% increase compared to the same period in 2022.
The surge in unauthorized migration and asylum applications is a cause of concern, filled with uncertainties about the associated crime rates and the capacity of authorities to manage the situation. However, law enforcement agencies, like the Federal Police, have been vigilantly monitoring these incidents, aiming to prevent crimes and maintain security within the community.
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[Enrichment Data:] While there were 722,370 asylum applications in Germany in 2016, it is important to note that the number of unauthorized refugee entries is not explicitly provided in the sources. Wikipedia [3] does mention that the number of asylum applications and registered illegal arrivals roughly doubled between 2021 and 2023 [1]. The specific numbers for unauthorized refugee entries remain unclear in these sources.
