Germany tightens the deportation of asylum seekers from the borders
German authorities have made a strict decision to tighten the procedures for returning asylum seekers at the border, as police unions confirmed that anyone who requests asylum or protection will be returned directly, except for pregnant women, the sick, and unaccompanied minors.
This procedure comes in implementation of the directives of Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) and is mandatory for all federal police officers deployed at the borders.
Andreas Roßkopf, head of the German Police Union (GdP), explained that this approach represents a significant change in policy and contradicts the recent statements of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU), who said that the current border controls are similar to those imposed during the European Football Championship last year, where immediate returns of asylum seekers were not implemented in respect of European laws.
Heiko Tigats, the head of the German Police Union (DPolG), confirmed that the orders are clear and mandate the return of refugees to neighboring countries unless they belong to exempt categories. He noted that the police will continue to implement these measures until the courts issue a contrary decision, if that happens.
Due to the accompanying legal controversy, Roskoff emphasized that the responsibility lies entirely with the Ministry of Interior, and that if it later turns out that these actions violate European law, police officers cannot be held accountable for their implementation.
Minister Dobrindt announced on Wednesday additional plans to reduce the number of refugees, including increasing the number of police officers at the borders and implementing an immediate return policy for asylum seekers, with limited exceptions for children and pregnant women, which sparked a wave of political and media controversy within the country.