According to reports from police unions, German border police have significantly intensified their policy of rejecting asylum seekers. “Our colleagues will reject every asylum and protection seeker, except pregnant women, the sick and unaccompanied minors. The directive from the Federal Minister of the Interior is binding for officers at the border” said Andreas Roßkopf, head of the GdP for the area of the Federal Police, to “Bild” (Saturday edition).
His colleague Heiko Teggatz from the DPOLG union also confirmed to “Bild” that officers will now return all refugees, with the exception of particularly vulnerable individuals, to neighboring countries. Teggatz said, “The Federal Police can proceed in this manner until a court may decide otherwise.”
In contrast, the police unions contradict Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU). During his first visit to Brussels, Merz emphasized that Germany was controlling the borders “about as rigorously as during the last European Football Championship.” During these controls, the Federal Police did not reject asylum seekers because this practice would have been against EU law according to the previous federal government.
In light of legal uncertainties, Roßkopf emphasized: “We have made it clear to the Ministry of the Interior that if courts later establish that the suspension of European regulations and the application of national laws are unlawful, the Federal Police officers must not be held accountable. The responsibility for the measures lies solely with the Federal Ministry of the Interior.” Teggatz also sees the liability for “police action” clearly in the ministry.