Tightened Borders: Asylum Seekers Confront New Challenges
Initial applicant denied asylum status
In accordance with the new federal government's decisive measures, border controls across Germany, particularly at the Luxembourg and Belgian frontiers, have noticeably been beefed up, causing ripples among asylum seekers.
Among the first to feel the effects are four Afghan nationals who entered Luxembourg, only to be subsequently rejected by the authorities. Stefan Döhn, the spokesman for the Federal Police in Trier, confirmed that the four individuals, consisting of two women and two men, had initially filed asylum applications in Greece. Their applications were denied after they were discovered during a routine bus check at Trier's central station.
The rejection was coordinated with the Luxembourg police, as these four individuals did not fall under the exempted vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women and children.
Reinforced Border Controls
Thursday, May 6, 2025, brought about intensified controls at the German borders under the instruction of the new Minister of the Interior, Alexander Dobrindt, from the Christian Social Union (CSU). The objective of these stricter regulations is to tackle unwanted immigration, according to the new administration.
The Trier Federal Police currently operates two stationary control stations: one on the A64, monitoring traffic from Luxembourg, and another at the Belgian border. There are also routine checks at locations within a 30-kilometer border radius, with a total of 36 crossing points between Luxembourg and Belgium in Rhineland-Palatinate.
Critics argue that these stringent controls may infringe upon EU law, specifically related to free movement within the Schengen Area. The legality of the measures and their coordination with neighboring countries have become focal points of debate, causing tensions with countries like Luxembourg.
As the impact of these new policies on asylum seekers and regional cooperation continues to unfold, critics warn that asylum seekers might increasingly turn to illicit pathways, such as smuggling networks, to gain entry. If ongoing debates over the legality of the controls are not addressed promptly, regional tensions could escalate further.
[1] migrationpolicy.org/article/germany-decides-extend-one-way-asylum-agreements-afghanistan-and-iraq[2] europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-9-2025-0042_EN.html[3] politico.eu/article/germany-asylum-policy-luxembourg-complaint-schengen-area/
- The rejection of the four Afghan nationals by German authorities, following their attempt to enter Luxembourg, highlights the stricter community policy implemented by the new German administration as part of the tightened border controls.
- Critics, including those in politics and policy-and-legislation, have raised concerns that the new policy's focus on vocational training for asylum seekers, while commendable, does not address the immediate challenges faced by asylum seekers in Luxembourg, such as rejections and increased border controls.
- Despite facing rejections and witnessing the intensified border controls, some asylum seekers may resort to illicit means like smuggling networks to secure entry, as predicted by general-news outlets like NTV.
- The implementation of the new community policy, with its emphasis on vocational training, aligns with the priorities of the new German administration, which seeks to tackle unwanted migration and promote self-sufficiency among asylum seekers as part of their strategy in migration politics.
