Germany is set to prolong its strict border surveillance measures beyond September in a renewed effort to curb irregular immigration. The decision, confirmed by Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt during a podcast interview aired Thursday, reflects the country’s increasingly hardline stance on asylum and border control.
Originally scheduled to end on September 15, the surveillance program will now continue indefinitely. The move targets asylum seekers from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan and war-torn Syria, particularly those whose applications have been rejected or who are suspected of criminal activity. Dobrindt emphasized the government’s commitment to deporting such individuals swiftly.
The extension comes under the leadership of Germany’s new conservative Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who has vowed to take decisive action against illegal immigration. Merz argues that firm border policies are essential to counter the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which shocked many by securing 20% of the vote in February’s parliamentary elections.
Although the ruling CDU/CSU and SPD coalition has distanced itself from the AfD, it has adopted increasingly stringent immigration measures. Since early 2024, Germany has enforced border checks with nine neighboring countries—a policy initiated under former Chancellor Olaf Scholz and now intensified under Merz.
Human rights organizations and neighboring states have voiced concern over the tougher approach, particularly the practice of turning asylum seekers away at the border. Despite these objections, the Merz administration remains resolute.
“The border controls will continue beyond September 15,” Dobrindt stated, signaling a long-term strategy that prioritizes national security over international criticism.
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