Germany’s new chancellor, Friedrich Merz, wasted no time acting on a key campaign promise—cracking down on illegal immigration. Just one day after officially taking office, Merz’s government has rolled out tougher border policies that mark a major change in the country’s approach to asylum.
Merz, leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), was elected on his second try in parliament after failing to secure enough votes earlier in the day. One of his first moves was to support new rules that block migrants from applying for asylum at Germany’s land borders.
On Wednesday, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt signed an order that stops asylum applications from being accepted at any land entry points. In a letter shared with the newspaper Bild, he told Federal Police chief Dieter Romann to ignore a 2015 directive issued during former Chancellor Angela Merkel’s term.
“I hereby withdraw the verbal instruction given… on 13 September 2015,” Dobrindt wrote, referring to Merkel’s decision to open Germany’s borders during the height of Europe’s refugee crisis in 2015–16. More than a million migrants entered Germany at the time—a move that was later heavily criticized and blamed for various political and social tensions.
Dobrindt clarified that while Germany isn’t completely closing its borders, it will be stepping up enforcement in a big way. Officers will now be turning people back at the border, except for certain “vulnerable groups” such as children and pregnant women.
To support the new plan, the government will add 2,000 to 3,000 more officers to the current 11,000 already stationed at the borders. Dobrindt also mentioned that neighboring countries were being consulted to make sure Germany’s actions don’t create extra pressure on them.
Germany’s land borders stretch over 3,700 kilometers and connect with nine countries, including Poland, Austria, France, and the Netherlands—all part of the Schengen Zone, which allows passport-free travel.
Migration remains a deeply debated issue in Germany. Many local governments say they’re overwhelmed by the cost of housing and supporting asylum seekers. In 2024, Germany received over 237,000 asylum applications—more than any other EU country.
Meanwhile, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, known for its anti-immigration views, has recently been labeled an extremist group by the country’s intelligence agency, which accused it of threatening democracy. The party has filed a legal challenge against that designation.
