Migration patterns are causing significant effects, according to Wegner's assessment
Berlin Sees Decrease in Refugee Inflows and Increase in Voluntary Departures
Berlin, Germany - The city's authorities are reporting a significant decrease in refugee inflows and an increase in voluntary departures, a trend primarily attributed to stricter migration policies, enhanced border controls, and faster asylum procedures.
According to Berlin's Governing Mayor, Kai Wegner, the city has reached its capacity limits in integration. However, he sees the European Union as responsible for a common asylum policy in Europe and encourages the federal government to continue on the current path and work constructively with all federal states.
The number of asylum seekers in 2023 was 16,762, in 2024 was 10,749, and in the first half of 2025 was 3,153. Simultaneously, the costs for housing, supplying, and integrating refugees in Berlin increased from 2022 to 2025 to 2.24 billion euros, almost doubling. In 2025, the costs amounted to 2.24 billion euros.
The decrease in refugee inflows can be linked to tougher migration policies, with faster asylum decisions and stricter return practices being implemented by the German government and Berlin authorities. This led to asylum claims dropping by nearly half—from around 18,700 in May 2024 to 9,900 in May 2025 in Germany.
Another factor contributing to the decrease is the focus on voluntary departures. Increased efforts to encourage voluntary returns, including structured programs and stricter enforcement, have resulted in more people leaving the country on their own accord. Such voluntary departures, alongside deportations, have outpaced arrivals, suggesting these policies impacted migrant behavior.
The government's crackdown on smuggling networks is also a significant factor. The authorities aim to cut off illegal migration routes and criminal gang influence, further lowering refugee inflows.
Berlin also focuses on attracting skilled labor through programs like the Opportunity Card visa, providing a legal route for qualified non-EU workers. This may divert some flows away from asylum channels.
Recent European Court of Justice rulings have put limits on how restrictively countries can designate “safe countries of origin,” potentially affecting asylum processing. However, Germany has maintained its firm stance on controlling migration inflows.
Despite the increasing costs, the black-red coalition has not implemented considerations to declare a state of emergency to take out so-called emergency loans for financing. Currently, twice as many people are leaving Berlin as are arriving in the city. Wegner expressed optimism that the turnaround in migration policy will show more effects soon.
- The decrease in refugee inflows in Berlin is predominantly due to stricter migration policies and enhanced border controls, as well as an increase in voluntary departures, which are all political decisions within the realm of general-news.
- The German government's focus on voluntary departures, achieved through structured programs and stricter enforcement, has influenced migrant behavior, contributing to the decrease in refugee inflows and being a significant aspect of politics related to general-news.
