The federal government has decided to extend border controls for an additional six months, just one month before the previous period was set to end. According to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, this extension aims to prevent the entry of irregular migrants across the border. Scholz stated, “Today we ordered the imposition of temporary controls on all German borders again for a period of six months, and we have notified the European Commission.”
The German Chancellor emphasized that the data demonstrates the effectiveness of border controls in combating illegal immigration. Scholz stated, “By managing our borders, we are successfully reducing irregular migration, and the numbers support this.”
Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser confirmed the significance of border controls in the fight against migrant smuggling gangs. She stated, “We are working to stop human traffickers who exploit people as commodities and smuggle them across the border. Our efforts are focused on combating criminals and extremists.”
According to figures from the Federal Ministry of the Interior, 47,000 individuals were denied entry at the border due to forged or missing visas. Additionally, authorities detected 80,000 cases of illegal entry and arrested 1,900 smugglers.
In October 2023, the German government decided to implement temporary border controls at its borders with Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and Poland. By September 2024, these controls were expanded to include the borders with the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Denmark. The government notified the European Commission about these border controls, citing the need to combat cross-border crime and safeguard against Islamic terrorism.
Civil society organizations and human rights groups argue that the government’s imposed controls violate Schengen rules, which allow border controls only in exceptional cases and for a maximum of six months, requiring notification to the European Commission.
The border controls encounter numerous challenges, particularly from the German police, which lacks the necessary capabilities and resources. Andreas Rosskopf from the Police Union highlighted that the substantial number of police officers assigned to the border compromises safety in other areas. He stated, “More than a thousand members of the Federal Police riot police are now supporting the border authorities.”
He noted that the riot police function similarly to fire brigades, being deployed in major situations or during football matches. Additionally, the government has shifted police presence from train stations to the border, negatively affecting the ability to address the numerous attacks occurring at train stations.
The federal faction is pushing for strict border controls at all German borders to prevent migrants from entering the country. Federal leader Friedrich Merz attempted to pass a law in parliament that would establish permanent border controls, but the proposal was rejected.
