Germany Rejects Asylum Seekers at Borders on Merz's First Day to Curb Irregular Migration
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Germany's new Chancellor Friedrich Merz has initiated a significant policy shift by tightening border controls to address irregular migration. On his first day in office, Merz ordered the rejection of undocumented migrants, including asylum seekers, at the country's borders, fulfilling a campaign promise to curb illegal migration.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has revoked a 2015 verbal instruction that allowed undocumented immigrants to enter Germany and seek asylum, marking a departure from the previous government's approach under Angela Merkel. The new measures aim to reduce the number of asylum applications, which stood at 352,000 in 2023 and 250,000 last year, in line with EU law.
The German government plans to increase border police presence and implement stricter controls, while still allowing entry for vulnerable groups such as pregnant women and children. This move is part of a broader strategy to address the migration crisis, alongside economic reforms aimed at re-industrialization, with unemployment at 6.3% and 2.93 million people out of work. Inflation has cooled to 2.1%, but remains a concern.
In addition to migration, Merz's government is focusing on strengthening national defense in response to Russia's war in Ukraine and uncertainties over US President Donald Trump's foreign policy. Germany aims to meet NATO's 2% GDP target and invest in advanced military equipment including Leopard battle tanks, fighter jets, armed drones, and missile defense systems.
Germany's new conservative-led coalition government has moved quickly to implement its agenda in its first week in office, with unprecedented measures to curb irregular migration https://t.co/Y927NErLCy https://t.co/0R8TtvXzZi
