Border Control Instituted: All German Borders Undergo Inspections and Deny Entry Orders Issued by the Interior Minister
In a significant move, Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) announced the implementation of full border controls at all German borders starting September 16, 2024. This decision was a response to perceived security risks from irregular migration and the high overall burden on Germany.
The measures, which were initially introduced by Faeser and continued and intensified by her successor Alexander Dobrindt in 2025, include controls by the federal police at all German land borders. These controls are aimed at addressing the current threats of Islamic terrorism, cross-border crime, and the overall burden on Germany.
The legality of these controls, particularly the pushbacks of asylum seekers, is a subject of dispute within Germany and EU law. Experts and parts of the SPD consider these measures potentially unlawful, particularly regarding EU asylum regulations. However, the German government invokes an emergency exception under European treaties to justify these actions.
CDU leader Friedrich Merz and former President of the Federal Constitutional Court, Hans-Jürgen Papier, have suggested that EU law can be overridden to maintain domestic security and order in Germany. They argue that German law takes precedence when it comes to ensuring domestic security and order in Germany.
Simultaneously, tough migrant rejections at the borders are set to begin. According to Bild's information, a "model for EU-law-compliant and effective rejections" has been developed. These measures have been notified to the EU Commission, as reported by Business Insider.
The border control measures at German borders are being implemented with a focus on maintaining domestic security and order in Germany. This model reportedly goes beyond the current practice where over 30,000 people have been rejected at border controls since October 2023.
The justification for these measures is rooted in the need to protect Germany from various security threats, including Islamic terrorism, cross-border crime, and the overall burden on the country. This broader strategy seeks to maintain domestic security and order in Germany.
These developments have sparked debates within Germany and the EU about the balance between national security and EU law, particularly regarding asylum regulations. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how these border control measures will shape Germany's relationship with the EU and its approach to migration and security.
