Since the expanded border controls were implemented in May 2025, the Federal Police have prevented more than 28,000 people from entering Germany, according to figures cited by Focus from the Federal Ministry of the Interior. Specifically, between May 2025 and April 7, 2026, a total of 28,684 irregular migrants were turned back at the border. Among those rejected, 1,242 were asylum seekers, while entry was permitted for 1,104 irregular migrants due to belonging to a vulnerable group, such as unaccompanied minors.
The number of asylum applications filed in Germany during this period has more than halved compared to the same time last year. The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) recorded 85,280 asylum applications from May 2025 to March 2026 (data for April is not yet available). This compares to 181,337 asylum applications registered between May 2024 and March 2025, marking a decrease of approximately 53 percent.
This suggests that while the number of newly arriving asylum applicants in Germany is declining, many irregular migrants are still able to enter. Furthermore, it cannot be ruled out that individuals previously turned back at the border might successfully enter and file for asylum at a later date. According to a spokesperson for the Ministry of the Interior, there is no data available on how many applicants were previously rejected at the border.