Dobrindt's asylum policy: border controls ensure domino effect!

Dobrindt's asylum policy: border controls ensure domino effect!

Federal Minister of the Interior Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) significantly tightened Germany's asylum policy after taking office in May 2025. Under his leadership, asylum seekers at the border are rejected under certain circumstances. Dobrindt reports on a significant increase in rejections, which has increased by 45 percent in the past three weeks compared to the weeks before. These drastic measures are intended to counteract a “domino effect” to neighboring countries, which also tighten their border controls, reports rosenheim24 .

In April 2025, 10,930 people submitted an asylum application in Germany, which represents a decline compared to 19,360 applications in the previous year. This decline is not only a German phenomenon, but is also observed across the EU, in particular due to the falling application figures for Syrians according to the case of the Assad regime. Dobrindt sees a chance in the new migration policy to reduce polarization in society.

reinforcement of the border controls

The increased controls at the German external borders are part of the new strategy that Dobrindt introduced. 11,000 civil servants are currently in use, and this number is to be increased by up to 3,000 federal police officers. The authorities have the opportunity to reject asylum seekers if they cannot submit any valid entry documents or have already applied for asylum in another EU state. Exceptions apply to special groups such as pregnant women and unaccompanied minors, such as "https://www.dw.com/de/so-versch%C3%A4rft-de-deutschlands-asylpolitik-ein-%C3%BCberblick/A-72516794"

politicians such as Friedrich Merz, the new Chancellor, emphasize the need for cooperation with European neighbors in migration policy. The coalition agreement between the Union and the SPD stipulates that rejections should take place in coordination with the neighboring countries. Critical voices, in particular the Greens, express concerns about measures that are contrary to European law and warn of a possible overload of the federal police. Dobrindt, on the other hand, expects the new strategy to take the wind out of the sails both anti -migrant efforts and motivate neighboring countries to take similar steps.

reactions to asylum policy

The reactions to Dobrindt's new asylum policy are mixed. While positive feedback from countries such as France, Denmark, the Czech Republic and Austria are recorded, neighboring states such as Poland express concerns about the withdrawal of rejected migrants. Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk criticized the German border controls and demanded that they should initially apply at the EU's external borders. The Greens are also concerned and are calling for a legal examination of the new measures.

The federal police have already registered numerous unauthorized entry since October 2023. In the period from September 16, 2024 to April 30, 2025, a total of 33,406 unauthorized entry were recorded, of which 21,393 ended with rejections. These developments throw a light on the gap between political rhetoric and the actual implementation of the measures.

economists warn of a emerging labor shortage in Germany, which could affect up to five million jobs in the next ten years. Marcel Fratzscher, President of the German Institute for Economics, emphasizes that immigration is essential to counteract this defect. Monika Schnitzer, chairwoman of the economics, emphasized in 2023 that Germany would need 1.5 million immigrants annually.

The current developments in German asylum policy are therefore in the field of tension between the need to secure the limits, and the continued discussion about the humanitarian obligations and the legal framework that the EU specifies.