The New Border Rules: What It Means for Asylum Seekers
Implications of New Border Regulations
Hop on over, get ready for a change at the borders! Germany's new Interior Minister, Alexander Dobrindt, has ushered in tougher asylum policies, with migrants facing rejections even at the entrance. Let's dive into the key questions and answers regarding this new landscape at the land boundaries.
Got Border Patrol?
Not comprehensively, but you'll be seeing more federal police officers around - not just on highways, but at various locations. The police force is gradually expanding for better control.
Can Asylum Seekers Still Enter Germany Via Land?
It's complicated. Dobrindt announced that migrants may continue to be rejected at the border, even if they apply for asylum. However, not every asylum-seeker encountered by the police will be denied entry. The minister is targeting a balance between "compassion and order." For instance, pregnant women and children will be safe from rejection.
Political Ponderings
Friedrich Merz, a potential former Chancellor, had earlier declared that once in power, he would instruct the Interior Ministry to fully control the borders and reject all illegal entries, even for those with protection claims. Merz believed that the EU asylum rules were dysfunctional and that Germany needed to exercise its right to national law.
Written in Black and White
The coalition agreement has agreed to carry out rejections at the common borders, even when there are asylum applications. Last year, around 229,000 individuals filed their initial asylum application in Germany, which was approximately 100,000 fewer compared to the previous year.
Back in the Past
Rejections are not entirely new. People with re-entry bans, such as those after a deportation, have already been turned away in the past. Additionally, this applies to individuals without visas who do not apply for asylum.
Have the Forces Grown Enough?
Opinions are mixed on this issue. More controls mean more officers directly deployed at the borders. On the flip side, rejections typically take less time than data collection and accompanying someone to the initial reception facility if they are allowed to stay temporarily.
EU Asylum Reform: Is It Obsolete?
No. Although the EU countries agreed on a common asylum reform in 2024 after years of negotiations, it will still take time for it to become effective.
International Implications
There are two views on the potential political repercussions within the EU: Some fear that a solo move from Germany in rejecting asylum-seekers could undermine trust among EU countries, while others believe that this is unlikely and that many governments might even support a harsher stance if it contributes to a limitation of irregular migration in the long run.
Legal Matters
The legal foundation for border rejections is uncertain, with some experts speculating that current EU law does not permit rejections. However, EU law allows for exceptions under specific conditions.
A Tribute to Past Policies
This new policy does mark a departure from Angela Merkel's refugee policy in 2015, when she allowed asylum-seekers stranded in Hungary to proceed to Germany for humanitarian reasons. The number of asylum applications increased significantly, but the policy was not implemented to turn these individuals back at the German border.
References:* ntv.de* gut/dpa
Who's Who:* Alexander Dobrindt* Federal Ministry of the Interior* Migration* Immigration* Asylum Policy* Border Rejections* Federal Government* Friedrich Merz* European Union* Geneva Convention* Dublin Regulation* Non-refoulement* European Court of Justice* Angela Merkel
- The employment policy within the Federal Ministry of the Interior may need to be adjusted to accommodate an expansion of the police force due to tougher border policies.
- One hope for asylum seekers under the new border rules is that there will be no rejections, as pregnant women and children are exempt.
- Although the EU asylum reform is expected to be enacted in 2024, its potential impact on general-news and crime-and-justice issues such as border rejections is uncertain.
- It is speculated that the legal foundation for border rejections may be uncertain, as some experts claim that current EU law does not permit rejections, but allows exceptions under specific conditions.
