Saxony-Anhalt: Number of asylum seekers falls to historic low!

Saxony-Anhalt: Number of asylum seekers falls to historic low!

Saxony-Anhalt recorded a noticeable decline in asylum seekers in June 2025. While 399 asylum seekers arrived in the state in June 2024, a year later there were only 170. This development is closely related to the measures of the new federal government, as Interior Minister Tamara Zieschang (CDU) emphasizes. In your opinion, the new regulations have a significant impact on the number of asylum seekers. A look at the nationwide figures shows that asylum applications from January to May 2025 fell by a whopping 48 percent compared to the previous year.

The more intensive border controls that Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) ordered in May 2025 also contribute to this development. Zieschang also emphasizes that the suspension of family reunification for refugees with limited protection status for two years represents a decisive relief for schools. She continues to call for India and the Maghreb states – Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco – to be classified as safe countries of origin. This could further reduce the number of applications.

In the current debate about asylum numbers, the growing number of those required to leave the country in Saxony-Anhalt is also being considered. from the end of 2023 to the end of May 2025, this number fell from 5,779 to 4,651. Zieschang argues that this decline reduces the AfD's potential for incitement, which is of significant importance in today's political landscape.

Initial reception in Saxony-Anhalt

In order to manage the challenges of accommodating asylum seekers, a concept for demand and capacity planning for initial reception in Saxony-Anhalt was drawn up a few years ago. Those responsible have decided that the accommodation should initially take place at two locations in Halberstadt and Stendal. The main office of the country's central contact point for asylum seekers is located in Halberstadt, while a new state reception center (LAE) is being built in Stendal, which will have 1,000 places and will meet the requirements of the EU reception directive for people in particular need of protection.

The LAE in Stendal takes into account the needs of all vulnerable people, including pregnant women, minors and people with disabilities. Disabled-accessible accommodation, sanitary facilities and play and leisure areas are already being planned. Partial use of the facility was scheduled for early May 2024. Catering is provided in a lightweight hall, and security guards ensure protection in the facility around the clock.

Historical context of asylum law

The development of asylum law in Germany has a long history. The first legally regulated asylum procedure was introduced as early as 1953. Germany has been a party to the Geneva Refugee Convention since 1951 and has therefore developed into one of the main receiving countries for refugees. Article 16 of the Basic Law guaranteed a far-reaching fundamental right to asylum until the reform in 1993. In recent years, however, asylum law has been tightened in several reforms, which has led, among other things, to the introduction of safe countries of origin.

There are currently over 727,900 people living with refugee protection in Germany, and 351,915 asylum applications were registered in 2023. The discussion about asylum procedures and the treatment of refugees is becoming increasingly louder on the political agenda, especially with regard to the planned reform of the common European asylum system (CEAS) and the future humanitarian reception programs.

Overall, the situation in Saxony-Anhalt and the nationwide developments show that the issue of accommodation for asylum seekers and asylum policy will remain a central topic in the political discussion in the future. The challenges are numerous and the future will show how effective the measures taken are.

For further information about current developments in Saxony-Anhalt you can read here: n-tv report, Ministry of Saxony-Anhalt or bpb.