Drop in Asylum Applications Hits Four-Year Low in May, Germany's Interior Minister Cheers Progress
Monthly asylum applications plummet, reaching a four-year low in May.
Get the scoop on Germany's lowest monthly asylum application count in four years! In May, a mere 7,916 first-time applications were submitted, marking a 13.1% decrease compared to April, according to the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (Bamf). Following this, there were 2,000 subsequent applications, showcasing a 9.8% increase from the previous month.
Tallying up the numbers, a grand total of 62,897 first and follow-up applications have been lodged since the year began. This is a stark contrast to the 112,609 applications submitted during the first five months of 2021, and the full year's total of 250,945 last year.
Alexander Dobrindt, Germany's Federal Interior Minister, proudly proclaimed, "The migration turnaround is showing results. The first effects are visible." He further emphasized, "New application numbers are decreasing. We must continue to persist and reduce illegal migration."
Of the applicants in May, most hailed from Afghanistan (1,814), followed by Syria (1,512) and Turkey (899). Rounding out the top five were Somalia (261), Iraq (251), Eritrea (203), and Russia (199).
Stay informed with these updates from ntv.de, AFP. Though we don't have specific details about what factors contributed to this May's decline, it could be attributed to policy changes, global health measures, and shifts in regional conflicts.
Bonus Insights:Germany has historically been a popular destination for asylum seekers, yet application numbers have shown fluctuations over the years[2]. Various factors could be at play, such as policy changes, global events, or conflict resolution/escalation in applicants' home countries.
The drop in asylum applications in May may be linked to changes in Germany's community and employment policies, as well as ongoing global political events and general-news surrounding migration and regional conflicts. The decrease in new applications, as highlighted by the Federal Interior Minister, Alexander Dobrindt, might be a result of efforts to reduce illegal migration and could signal a turning point in Germany's migration landscape.
