German authorities decided on Wednesday to step up the fight against irregular immigration, with measures such as accelerating deportations and improving border controls.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the leaders of Germany's 16 states announced the provisions after a lengthy discussion.
The decision comes at a time when the far right has been gaining ground in Germany. At the same time, the rise in arrivals of asylum seekers and refugees is testing the reception capacities of the municipalities, which are urging the state to act.
In the first four months of the year, 101,981 asylum applications were filed in Germany, a 78% increase compared to the corresponding period in 2022. Compared to 2019, the number of arrivals has risen by 50%.
Controlling and limiting irregular migration is a priority for Germany, Olaf Scholz said at a press conference.
While the average processing time for an asylum application is currently 26 months, the authorities want to speed up the procedure to deport rejected applicants more quickly. A modernisation of the computer processing of files should contribute to this acceleration.
Regulatory changes are also planned to facilitate the implementation of expulsions: the possibility of maintaining and ordering detention with a view to expulsion will be widened, while the maximum duration of detention with a view to deportation is to be increased from 10 to 28 days.
The federal government and regions have not decided to introduce permanent border controls with neighbouring countries at this stage, but have not ruled it out if necessary.
Referring to the already existing controls with Austria, Olaf Scholz said: “Depending on the situation, we will take similar measures with other bordering countries or intensify mobile controls.”
The reintroduction of border controls in the Schengen area is only permitted under exceptional circumstances.
