Germany: 1600 asylum applications rejected at the border
German authorities reported that around 1,600 people who were denied entry at the border later applied for asylum in the country. Between May 7 and October 31, 2025, a total of 1,582 asylum applications of this kind were submitted, according to a report by the German news agency DPA based on the government's response to a parliamentary inquiry from the Green Party.
This increase in asylum applications comes at a time when the German government, led by the conservatives elected earlier this year, continues to fulfill its electoral promise to tighten immigration controls. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt emphasized border checks and ordered authorities to deny entry to all asylum seekers except for certain vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women and the sick.
Typically, there are no border restrictions within the Schengen Area, which includes most EU countries, but the government has imposed stricter measures since May that reflect its broader goal of reducing the flow of asylum seekers to Germany. These measures build on the restrictions initiated by former Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, but have become stricter under the oversight of Dobrinth.
A recent survey conducted by YouGov for DPA found that the majority of Germans support this stricter approach. 53% said they 'fully support' reducing immigration related to asylum seekers, while 23% expressed partial support. In contrast, 15% opposed this trend, and 9% of participants did not respond or did not specify their opinion.
The survey also highlighted public perceptions regarding the new measures. Only 8% of respondents felt that Dubrindt's policies represented a significant change in direction, while 42% said they saw no difference. More than 2,100 eligible voters participated in the survey between December 12 and 15, 2025, indicating that public opinion largely aligns with the government's stricter immigration strategy.