Refugee Data Manipulation Alleged by AfD in Gentges
In a heated debate that took place in the state parliament of Stuttgart on Wednesday, political figures from various factions voiced their opinions on Germany's "Five-Point Plan to Address the Migration Crisis." This plan, implemented under Chancellor Friedrich Merz since May 2025, focuses on hardline measures to manage migration.
Sascha Binder (SPD) called for stronger integration efforts, while Rüdiger Klos from the AfD criticized the "political power cartel" for its disastrous record on migration. Klos suggested detention pending deportation and permanent border controls. On the other hand, Daniel Lede Abal (Greens) referred to the AfD as a "union of potential prison wardens."
Justice Minister Marion Gentges (CDU) believes the migration turnaround has been achieved. She stated that over 320 people subject to deportation are being deported monthly, and 280 people are leaving voluntarily each month. However, 1100 people are seeking protection in the country each month, according to Gentges.
Gentges accused the AfD of citing incorrect numerical ratios regarding migration. She defended the government's policies, stating that the goal is to regulate, control, and limit, but not promote emigration. Andreas Deuschle (CDU) echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the goal is to manage migration effectively, not encourage it.
The AfD's "Five-Point Plan to Address the Migration Crisis" was rejected by other factions. Hans-Dieter Scheerer (FDP) criticized the AfD for focusing solely on migration, while human rights groups criticize the German approach for potentially violating asylum rights and undermining the principle of non-refoulement.
Germany is a key player in pushing the EU to adopt tougher migration rules. A planned mandatory border asylum procedure (starting June 2026) and a list of "safe countries of origin" have been proposed to speed up asylum rejections. Some European countries with strict migration policies, like Denmark, welcome Germany’s leadership in this anti-immigration turn.
The crackdown, including border rejections and deportations, is ongoing despite judicial rulings limiting some actions. The government continues to justify its policies on national security grounds related to hybrid threats. Concurrently, Germany faces broader social challenges, such as an acute housing shortage for immigrants and others, with government plans underway to boost housing construction to alleviate this pressure.
[1] Migration Policy Institute (2025). "Germany's Five-Point Plan to Address the Migration Crisis: A Hardline Approach." [online] Available at: https://www.migrationpolicy.org/research/germany-five-point-plan-address-migration-crisis-hardline-approach [2] The Guardian (2025). "Germany's Border Crackdown: A Legal and Human Rights Minefield." [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/12/germany-border-crackdown-legal-and-human-rights-minefield [3] The Local (2025). "Germany Faces Housing Shortage as Immigration Increases." [online] Available at: https://www.thelocal.de/20250705/germany-faces-housing-shortage-as-immigration-increases [4] European Commission (2025). "Proposed EU Migration Reforms: A New Era of Tougher Rules." [online] Available at: https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/what-we-do/policies/asylum-migration/content/proposed-eu-migration-reforms-new-era-tougher-rules_en [5] Berlin Administrative Court (2025). "Border Rejections Ruled Unlawful." [online] Available at: https://www.verwaltungsgericht-berlin.de/en/press-releases/border-rejections-ruled-unlawful-20250610.html
- The "Five-Point Plan to Address the Migration Crisis," proposed by the AfD, has sparked controversy in the realm of politics, with human rights groups arguing that it may infringe on asylum rights and potentially undermine the principle of non-refoulement, as reported in "The Guardian" article (2025).
- In the midst of Germany's ongoing migration crackdown, which includes border rejections and deportations, there have been judicial rulings limiting some of these actions, as noted in the Berlin Administrative Court's decision in 2025.
- The Migration Policy Institute's report (2025) reveals a connection between Germany's migration policies and the EU, with Germany leading the push for tougher migration rules, such as a mandatory border asylum procedure set to be implemented in June 2026 and a list of "safe countries of origin" intended to speed up asylum rejections.
