Germany has strengthened control at all land border crossings in response to increasing concerns about immigration and extremism across Europe.
RNC spokesperson Taylor Rogers criticized the U.S. for its immigration policies, drawing a comparison to the current situation in Europe. “Like the United States under dangerously liberal Kamala, the world is learning that wide open borders mixed with soft-on-crime policies is a recipe for criminals and terrorists to unleash rampant and violent crime in our communities,” Rogers told Fox News Digital.
Despite a 36% drop in “irregular migrants”—a term for illegal immigration—across Europe this year, the European Union remains worried about the impact, according to the bloc’s migration agency, Frontex. The EU has made agreements with Tunisia, Egypt, and Lebanon and finalized the “Pact on Migration and Asylum” this summer, according to French newspaper Le Monde.
Germany has decided to take unilateral action by allowing its authorities to reject migrants at the borders. This decision, which begins a six-month trial run on September 16, has sparked controversy due to the region’s tradition of free movement among member states. German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser announced the measures this week, emphasizing their aim to enhance internal security and combat irregular migration.
The new controls extend to all nine of Germany’s land borders. The move is part of a broader effort to address irregular migration and people smuggling, which has frustrated some neighboring countries. Faeser stated, “We are strengthening internal security and continuing our hard line against irregular migration.”
Germany has seen a rise in migrants from the Middle East and North Africa, which authorities link to a small increase in crime. In 2023, foreigners were responsible for around 41% of crimes in Germany, despite constituting only 15% of the population.
The migration issue has led to a significant political shift in Germany, with the far-right party winning a state election shortly after a Syrian immigrant’s stabbing attack, which ISIS claimed responsibility for. Similar Islamist attacks across Europe have fueled fears and boosted right-wing parties both nationally and in the European Parliament.
Germany’s response to the migration crisis, including accepting over a million refugees during the 2015/16 crisis, has placed a significant burden on the country. The new border controls could shift this burden to neighboring countries. Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner noted that there is no capacity to accept migrants rejected by Germany, highlighting the challenges posed by these new measures.
As Germany implements these tighter border controls, the broader implications for the European Union and its neighbors remain to be seen.