No Asylum Seeker Rejections at NRW Border, Day One of Tightened Controls
Borders of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) yet to see refusal of entry - No Hesitation at North Rhine-Westphalia Border
Here's the lowdown: The Federal Police in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) hasn't gave the boot to a single asylum seeker on the first day of beefed-up border controls. In the initial 24-hour period, no individuals seeking refuge were turned away or pushed back at the NRW borders with Belgium or the Netherlands, as confirmed by a federal police spokesperson. "Nobody made a plea for asylum," he simply stated.
The new Federal Minister of the Interior, Alexander Dobrindt (CSU), had announced that controls would get a tougher grip. This would allow asylum seekers to be denied at the border if they've already submitted applications in other EU countries. However, this doesn't apply to pregnant women, minors, and other vulnerable individuals.
Following Dobrindt's announcement of stricter controls at Germany's external borders, the Federal Police in NRW had already ramped up their personnel, as per their own declaration. The Federal Police refused to reveal the exact number of officers dispatched. Regularly, the Federal Police in NRW is equipped with a mobile control and surveillance unit consisting of 180 officers for such purposes, with reserve police available for backup.
North Rhine-Westphalia's Interior Minister, Herbert Reul (CDU), is of the opinion that the reinforced border controls deliver a double message: “They tell the folks who arrive here that they can no longer expect a welcome mat. They also convey to neighboring states through which most migrants typically travel that they'll need to safeguard their own external borders in the future.” Reul hopes for the realization “that the migration issue can only be resolved collaboratively in Europe”.
When queried about whether tightened border controls were the best approach to manage immigration, Reul replied: “A year ago, I'd have been highly critical, but not anymore. Unchecked and unauthorized migration significantly impacts societal sentiments – that must be acknowledged or mistrust ensues.”
"Yes, there's no single solution to problems such as irregular migration. Not even with border controls. But they are a crucial component of the solution," NRW's Interior Minister concluded.
- Federal Police
- Entry
- Border control
- North Rhine-Westphalia
- Rejection
- NRW
- Belgium
- Netherlands
- CDU
- CSU
- EU
- Children
- The Federal Police in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) did not reject any asylum seekers on the first day of tightened border controls, despite the initial 24-hour period seeing no individuals seeking refuge being turned away or pushed back at the NRW borders with Belgium or the Netherlands.
- The new Federal Minister of the Interior, Alexander Dobrindt (CSU), had announced that controls would be strengthened at Germany's external borders, allowing asylum seekers to be denied at the border if they've already submitted applications in other EU countries.
- Following Dobrindt's announcement, the Federal Police in NRW had already increased their personnel for the purpose of reinforced border controls, although they refused to disclose the exact number of officers dispatched.
- North Rhine-Westphalia's Interior Minister, Herbert Reul (CDU), believes that the strengthened border controls send a dual message: it tells asylum seekers they can no longer expect a welcoming atmosphere, and it conveys to neighboring states that they will need to safeguard their own external borders in the future.
- When asked about whether tightened border controls were the best approach to manage immigration, Reul replied that, while there's no single solution to problems such as irregular migration, border controls are a crucial component of the solution.
