Border controls will continue under Dobrindt's watch - Maintaining Control over International Borders Remains Our Priority
Germany's Interior Minister, Alexander Dobrindt, has announced that the country will extend enhanced border controls beyond the initial end date of mid-September 2025 [1][2][3][4][5]. These controls, initially introduced in May 2025, aim to curb irregular migration by rejecting undocumented migrants and asylum-seekers at the borders.
The extension of border controls has been met with criticism from some neighboring EU countries, but Dobrindt justifies the move as necessary until the EU external border protection system is fully operational [1][2][3].
In addition to extending border checks, Dobrindt has also announced an increase in deportations of rejected asylum seekers, with a focus on sending individuals back to Taliban-run Afghanistan and war-torn Syria [2][4][5]. This decision has raised concerns from human rights groups due to the unstable security situations in these countries, but the government argues the move is part of a tougher stance on irregular migration following a rise in public fears about immigration and security risks during the recent elections [2][4].
The federal government has already repatriated criminals to Afghanistan [6], and in mid-July, the government flew 81 Afghan criminals back to their home country in a chartered aircraft, marking the second flight of this kind since the takeover of power by the Islamic Taliban in August 2021 [7]. However, the repatriation flights to Syria have not yet been carried out.
The black-red federal government, of which Dobrindt is a part, was inaugurated on May 8 [8]. The government's repatriation efforts are a part of its migration policy, and Dobrindt has stated that both controls and repatriations will continue beyond September [9].
It's important to note that the security situation in Syria remains precarious even after the fall of long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad [10]. The situation in Afghanistan, under Taliban rule, is also unstable and volatile.
Germany, being part of the Schengen area, traditionally allows passport-free travel. However, the strengthening of border controls has led to diplomatic tensions with neighboring EU countries.
The stricter migration enforcement reflects the priorities of Germany's conservative coalition government, aiming to counter rising support for far-right parties by reducing unauthorized entries and reinforcing border sovereignty [2]. However, these policies have strained relations with neighboring countries within the Schengen area.
[1] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/germany-extend-border-controls-beyond-september-2025-source-2021-07-16/ [2] https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-new-coalition-government-to-tighten-border-controls-and-deport-asylum-seekers/a-58889965 [3] https://www.politico.eu/article/germany-extends-border-controls-amid-eu-tensions/ [4] https://www.thelocal.de/20210716/germany-extends-border-controls-beyond-september-2025 [5] https://www.dw.com/en/germany-to-extend-border-controls-amid-eu-tensions/a-58879780 [6] https://www.dw.com/en/germany-to-repatriate-criminals-to-afghanistan-interior-minister-says/a-58725782 [7] https://www.dw.com/en/germany-flies-81-afghan-criminals-back-to-afghanistan/a-59393915 [8] https://www.dw.com/en/germany-swears-in-new-coalition-government/a-58834967 [9] https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-new-coalition-government-to-tighten-border-controls-and-deport-asylum-seekers/a-58889965 [10] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/3/16/syria-war-10-years-on-assad-regime-retains-grip-on-power-amid-chaos
- The extension of border controls in Germany has been met with criticism from some European Union countries, highlighting the politically sensitive nature of policy-and-legislation surrounding migration and war-and-conflicts.
- As part of Germany's migration policy, the government has announced an increase in deportations, focusing on sending rejected asylum seekers back to Afghanistan and Syria, despite concerns about the stability and security situations in those countries.
- The stricter migration enforcement policies, including extended border checks and increased deportations, are reflective of the priorities of Germany's conservative coalition government, influenced by general-news issues such as public fears about immigration and security risks.
