migration
New border controls: the number of unauthorized entries is falling
In order to combat smuggling crime more strongly and limit irregular migration, the Federal Minister of the Interior has ordered border controls. photo
© Daniel Karmann/dpa
In October, Federal Interior Minister Faeser ordered permanent border controls at the borders with Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland. The number of unauthorized entries is currently falling sharply.
There are fewer unauthorized people at the borders with Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland in December Entries were detected than in previous months. In a response from the federal government to a question from AfD MP Leif-Erik Holm, it was stated that, according to preliminary data from the federal police, a total of 2,876 unauthorized entries were registered at these border sections last month. According to the police entry statistics, there were 4,050 in November and 5,488 in the second half of October.
Border controls at least until March 15th
In October, Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser ordered temporary fixed border controls at the borders with Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland. They have since been extended several times and are scheduled to continue until at least March 15th.
In order to combat smuggling crime even more and to limit irregular migration, the controls will be continued and have been notified to the European Commission, the Federal Ministry of the Interior announced in December. There have been permanent border controls at the land border between Germany and Austria since autumn 2015.
A total of 127,089 unauthorized entries were registered in Germany last year – not just at the borders to the three countries (2022: almost 92,000), as the Federal Police announced upon request. The “Welt” first reported a total number.
Holm’s accusation
According to preliminary figures from the Federal Police, there were 1,954 search hits at the borders with Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland in December, with an arrest warrant being issued in 338 cases.
Holm accused the Interior Minister of reacting too late to the increase in the number of unauthorized entries. He said: “As long as there is no effective protection of the EU’s external borders and Germany continues to be the main destination for asylum seekers and economic migrants from safe third countries, we need permanent stationary controls at all our external borders.”
According to statistics, there was also a decrease in unauthorized entries in December in 2020 and 2021 – also due to weather conditions. According to Andreas Roßkopf from the Police Union (GdP), the fact that fewer foreigners have recently appeared at the borders with Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland without a visa is also due to the fact that neighboring countries have responded to the new German controls with intensified controls . He still expects a further increase in the spring. Faeser said on Monday: “Our temporary border controls are working.” They also served to stop smugglers.