German border controls intensify as asylum seeker rejections surge
The German Federal Police has reported a significant increase in the number of individuals turned back at the country’s borders in the two weeks since the new federal government took office. According to figures from the Federal Ministry of the Interior, released to the “Focus” news outlet, a total of 1,676 people were turned back at the German borders between May 8 and May 22.
In the week preceding the new government’s inauguration, 511 people were turned back, as announced by Federal Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) during a visit to the German-Austrian border. A total of 12,044 individuals have been turned back in the year to date.
“The current figures show that the intensified border controls are having an effect” said Dobrindt (CSU) to the “Focus”. He thanked the “professional and engaged deployment of our Federal Police”. On May 7, the day after the election of Friedrich Merz (CDU) as Chancellor, Dobrindt had ordered intensified controls at the German borders.