Germany Prolongs Border Controls for Six More Months
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Synopsis
Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced on February 12 that the country will extend its stringent border controls for an additional six months, originally set to expire in March. This measure aims to address ongoing migration and terrorism concerns.
Key Takeaways
- Border controls extended for six more months.
- Approximately 80,000 illegal entries detected.
- 1,900 smugglers apprehended.
- 47,000 individuals turned away.
- Asylum applications dropped by a third last year.
Berlin, Feb 12 (NationPress) Germany is set to prolong its stringent border controls, originally established to tackle issues related to migration and terrorism, for an additional six months beyond their anticipated end in March, as announced by Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday.
Last September, Germany initiated checks on passports and identity documents at land borders to reduce the influx of individuals entering the nation without a visa. This strategy was initially intended to last for six months, in response to escalating illegal immigration and security threats.
As per the German Interior Ministry, in the recent past, the nation has uncovered around 80,000 instances of illegal entry, apprehended approximately 1,900 smugglers, and turned away about 47,000 individuals due to reasons such as counterfeit documents or expired visas. “With border controls, we are effectively preventing irregular migration,” Scholz stated.
The Social Democrats (SPD) led by Scholz have been under increasing scrutiny regarding this matter following a series of lethal attacks linked to migrants and asylum seekers. Several incidents in Germany over the past year have reignited fears concerning security and immigration. In the aftermath of an attack in Solingen that resulted in three fatalities and eight injuries, Scholz vowed to hasten deportations, enforce stricter weapon regulations, and further diminish irregular migration if required, according to reports from the Xinhua news agency.
Scholz emphasized that Wednesday's declaration demonstrated his commitment to “remain resolute in the fight against irregular migration.”
He noted that the border checks had led to 47,000 individuals being turned back at the borders.
Additionally, he referenced statistics indicating that asylum requests had decreased by a third last year compared to 2023, and that 1,900 people smugglers had been apprehended.
German media speculate that the extension of border controls, in advance of the early election for the Bundestag, suggests that immigration will be a pivotal topic in the forthcoming election.
The government initiated a comprehensive crackdown on border traffic in September to address what Interior Minister Nancy Faeser termed the “continuing burden” of migration and “Islamist terrorism.”
