Fewer unauthorized entries in the first half of the year

The number of unauthorized entries by migrants at the German border fell slightly in the first half of the year. The Federal Police counted 42,307 people who entered Germany without authorization in the first six months of this year. From January to June 2023, there were 45,338 unauthorized entries. This means that the number fell by almost seven percent in the same period. The six-month figures are only of limited significance because the overall annual trend is missing.

When comparing the past few months, it is striking that the number of unauthorized entries fell drastically from September 2023 to February 2024. In September last year, the Federal Police counted 21,375 unauthorized entries, in October 20,073, in December 7,497 and in February the number fell below the 6,000 mark. Since then, unauthorized entries have been slightly higher again, ranging from around 7,100 in March to almost 7,700 in June.

Fixed controls with Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland

In mid-October last year, Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser (SPD) ordered fixed controls at the land borders with Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland and has extended them several times since then. Prior to this, she had initially viewed the demand from several federal states for fixed controls at these border sections with skepticism.

The stationary controls will continue there for the time being: in May, Faeser notified the EU Commission of an extension of fixed controls at these borders until 15 June. The aim is to combat people smuggling and limit irregular migration.

Fixed border controls are controversial

The chairman of the Conference of Interior Ministers, Brandenburg's Interior Minister Michael Stübgen, believes that fixed border controls are still necessary until the EU asylum reform takes effect - which he told the Rheinische Post newspaper is 2026 at the earliest. The police union for the German Federal Police believes that dragnet searches along the border are more effective than fixed controls.