Markus Söder: "Germany's Asylum Policies are Tightening Up"
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Bavarian leader Markus Söder has proclaimed the new border control measures in Germany as the kickoff of a "asylum policy shift". "As of yesterday, the asylum policy shift has commenced in Germany. The old state, prior to 2015, is making a comeback," said the Minister-President of Bavaria in a video shared on X. "The law is back in the spotlight. As promised, it's putting into action."
His political ally, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, announced tighter border control procedures. Asylum seekers could be denied entry if they've already submitted applications in other European Union (EU) countries, however this won't apply to particular vulnerables such as pregnant women, children, and others deemed susceptible. A representative for the Federal Police confirmed that these changes have been implemented in Bavaria.
- CSU
- Leader
- Markus Söder
- Border control
- Germany
- Land border
- Bavaria
- Munich
The new border control rules represent a hardening of asylum and migration policies, primarily affecting Bavaria and other border regions. Essential aspects of these newly implemented restrictions include:
- Asylum seekers, with the exception of vulnerable groups like pregnant women and children, could be immediately turned away at the border, echoing stricter border rejection practices seen prior to 2015.
- Voluntary admission programs and family reunification for asylum seekers are currently paused, restricting avenues for migrants to lawfully enter Germany or reunite with their families.
- The government aims to work together with European partners to systematically implement these border rejections, reinforcing a restrictive and controlled immigration approach.
- Söder hailed these measures as the launch of a "asylum policy shift" in Germany, returning to stricter border controls and management practices influenced by the 2015 refugee crisis.
- Dobrindt announced the deployment of additional border police officers in key provinces, with Bavaria appearing to play a pivotal role in this new regime.
Bavaria, bordering Austria and the Czech Republic, stands as a primary entry point for migrants seeking to enter Germany. The stricter border controls mean that asylum seekers are more likely to be detained and refused entry at Bavarian border crossings. However, vulnerable individuals (pregnant women, children) continue to be exempt from immediate rejection while others face increased hurdles to gain entry for asylum applications.
These measures reflect the political stance established by Söder under the CSU, which advocates for a tough stance on migration and asylum, aiming to reduce the number of arrivals and increase deportations. Critics, such as Switzerland and Poland, have raised concerns about the legal and humanitarian implications of systematic migrant rejections at the border.
In essence, Markus Söder supports the new federal government measures aimed at tightening border controls and systematically denying asylum seekers entry at German borders — with Bavaria at the forefront of implementing these policies. These shifts reverse the more lenient approach taken during the past decade, leading to stricter controls, reduced legal entry options for asylum seekers, and the increased role of Bavarian border police in reinforcing these measures.
- Markus Söder, the CSU leader from Bavaria, declared that the new border control measures in Germany represent a shift in asylum policy.
- The stricter border controls primarily affect Bavaria and other border regions, with asylum seekers, excluding vulnerable groups, being immediately turned away at the border.
- The government is working together with European partners to systematically implement these border rejections, adopting a restrictive and controlled immigration approach.
- Critics, such as Switzerland and Poland, have expressed concerns about the legal and humanitarian implications of these systematic migrant rejections at the border.
