Information session in the evening: Union considers border controls inadequate

The controls at all German borders ordered by Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) continue to attract criticism. This and other topics of the evening with Florian Zelt.

The CDU and CSU believe that the measures are not sufficient to reduce the number of illegal entries. The police union complains, among other things, that there is a lack of staff and equipment. The federal government defends the controls, which have been in place since midnight.

Ministry of the Interior: Not every border crossing is checked

A spokeswoman for the Interior Ministry made it clear: “The borders are open.” And: There will not be a federal police officer at every border crossing. According to the ministry, the officers are mainly deployed where they expect irregular migration based on experience. Travelers, commuters and the economy should be affected as little as possible.

Federal Government: In exchange with neighbouring countries

The federal government says it is in constant contact with its neighboring countries. Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) spoke to several heads of government over the weekend and assured them that Germany is adhering to the EU rules on border controls. The new controls are initially limited to mid-March 2025. However, Faeser had already made it clear that she considered the controls necessary until the EU asylum reform takes effect. This is likely to take at least another two years.

Allegations of racial profiling during checks

The Interior Ministry has rejected allegations of racial profiling at border controls. Racist-motivated police measures are illegal and unacceptable, said a spokeswoman. This also applies to suspected irregular border crossings. The police are targeting delivery vans, among other things, as these are often used by smuggling gangs.

Refugee Council of Baden-Württemberg criticizes border controls

The Baden-Württemberg Refugee Council has been critical of the controls at Baden-Württemberg’s borders. The general view is that these are “national unilateral actions”. The council speaks of “deterrence policy tendencies”. The legal situation is clear: as soon as people submit an asylum application, they are prohibited from being turned back at the border. The police union also refers to the right to asylum: as soon as a person on the run claims this, they can no longer be turned away. The successes of the European Football Championship and the Olympics are evident – but smugglers and other organized criminals are quickly adapting to the changed situation. Migration policy must be discussed at a European level.