The German government has decided to extend border controls at all land borders for another six months, ahead of the upcoming elections, to demonstrate its commitment to combating illegal immigration.
The current border control measures were set to expire in mid-March. Announcing the decision ahead of the early elections on February 23, Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated that the government remains resolutely focused on fighting illegal immigration.
“Today, we have again ordered temporary controls at all borders in Germany for six months and informed the European Commission,” Scholz wrote on social media platform X (Twitter).
He explained that the border controls have been effective in countering illegal immigration. For example, in 47,000 cases, entry to the country was denied, and from 2023 to 2024, the number of asylum applications dropped by a third. Additionally, 1,900 individuals involved in human trafficking were arrested.
Germany reinstated border checks in September as part of a tougher stance on migration and cross-border crime.
Migration remains the top issue for voters ahead of the February 23 elections, with major parties under pressure to demonstrate their ability to address this problem.
