Germany to reject undocumented migrants

8/5/2025 6:10

German Interior Minister

Alexander Dobrindt issued an order on Wednesday to reject

undocumented migrants, including asylum seekers, at the

country's borders, on the first day of work for the new

coalition government of Chancellor Friedrich Merz.



Dobrindt announced the decision to rescind a 2015

instruction that had allowed entry for undocumented

third-country nationals, with the aim of reducing illegal

migration, saying the numbers were still too high.



"This issue is about clarity, consistency and control,"

Dobrindt told reporters.



Germany's Bild newspaper first reported the plans earlier on

Wednesday.



The rejection of asylum seekers is legally controversial.

The coalition agreement between Merz's conservatives and the

Social Democrats says the move should be made in coordination

with neighbouring countries.



Dobrindt, a member of Merz's conservative bloc, plans to

send up to 3,000 additional officers to the borders to curb

irregular migration, raising the number of border police to up

to 14,000, according to Bild's report.



The 2015 instruction was given under then-chancellor Angela

Merkel, whose term was defined by the arrival of hundreds of

thousands of asylum seekers in Germany, many fleeing war in

Syria.



Before Germany's federal election in February, Merz had

promised a crackdown on migration after a spate of violent

crimes involving migrants and rising support for the far-right.



His coalition has since agreed to reject asylum seekers at

borders, enable deportations to Syria and suspend family

reunions.