Germany Denies Entry to Over 10,000 Irregular Migrants Since May
(MENAFN) Germany has denied entry to more than 10,000 irregular migrants since early May, marking a sharp escalation in border enforcement under the country's new conservative-led coalition, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt revealed in comments to a magazine.
“We have turned away over 10,000 illegal migrants at our borders since May 8, including approximately 550 asylum seekers. It has become known that it no longer makes a difference at the border, which is also why asylum applications are declining,” said Dobrindt, a senior figure in Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s administration.
The interior minister, a key ally of Merz, credited stricter controls with reshaping both migration patterns and perceptions of Germany’s immigration stance. “To continue this success, we will be extending these controls beyond September. All measures are within the bounds of national and European law,” he stated.
The new measures, implemented shortly after the Christian Democrats formed a coalition government in May, reflect campaign promises to tighten borders and reduce unauthorized entries. The controls target crossings from neighboring EU countries, raising concerns over internal Schengen border rules.
Germany, home to an estimated 3.5 million refugees—largely from Ukraine, Syria, and Afghanistan—has been at the center of EU migration debates. Dobrindt claims the renewed focus on enforcement is “highly effective,” signaling a clear policy pivot to potential migrants and transit nations.
However, the tougher stance has sparked friction with neighboring Poland, which introduced its own temporary border checks last month. Polish officials have accused Germany of pushing migrants across the border, escalating diplomatic strains.
Under European Union law, Schengen area members can reintroduce border checks only in rare and urgent situations. The European Commission has emphasized that such actions should remain a “last resort” and must be “temporary.”
Germany’s ruling coalition defends its approach, pointing to EU rules requiring asylum seekers to file claims in the first EU country they enter—commonly frontline states like Greece or Italy. Merz’s conservatives argue that Germany cannot continue absorbing disproportionate numbers of asylum seekers and is acting within its rights under EU migration directives.
The government has yet to confirm how long the extended border checks will remain in place beyond the current September deadline.
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