Crackdown at the Border: Nearly Half of All Illegal Entrants Turned Back by Federal Police

Germany’s Border Policy Sees Significant Shift in 2024

Germany’s border policy has undergone a notable transformation, with a substantial increase in the number of illegal migrants being rejected by the border police.

According to recent figures from the Federal Ministry of the Interior, the federal police have sent back over half of the individuals caught attempting to enter Germany illegally in the first half of 2024. This data, reported by the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”, highlights a significant shift in the country’s approach to border control.

The statistics, published at the request of left-wing member of the Bundestag, Clara Bünger, reveal that 42,307 people were registered as entering the country without permission during the first six months of 2024. Of these, 21,661 individuals were refused entry, representing a substantially higher rate than in the previous year.

In comparison, 2023 saw the federal police turn back only 36,000 people out of 128,000 who entered the country without permission, accounting for 28 percent. Furthermore, the number of individuals applying for asylum at the border has decreased, with asylum applications submitted in 45 percent of cases in 2023, compared to 23 percent in the first half of 2024.