Startling statistics released by the German Federal Police on Saturday have revealed that 21,366 individuals entered Germany illegally in September, marking the highest monthly tally of “unauthorized entries” since February 2016, when the country was grappling with the peak of the “refugee crisis.”
This surge is part of a seven-month trend of increasing numbers of illegal entries, raising concerns and debates on the pressing issue of illegal migration. Between January and September 2023, a total of 92,119 individuals made unauthorized entries into Germany, putting the country on track to surpass the 112,000 illegal entries recorded in 2016.
Germany Illegal Immigration Viral
The persistent challenge of illegal migration has put immense pressure on politicians to formulate an effective migration policy, a task that has so far eluded them. In response, leaders from Germany’s three governing coalition parties met in Berlin on Friday to discuss potential solutions to this complex issue.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz, speaking to reporters from the German weekly publication Der Spiegel, declared, “We must finally deport on a grand scale those who have no right to stay in Germany.” At the same time, he emphasized the need for Germany to continue offering asylum to those genuinely entitled to it while attracting skilled immigrants to bolster the country’s ageing workforce.
Scholz indicated that a comprehensive set of measures would be required to address illegal migration, including enhancing the security of the European Union’s external borders and increasing control over Germany’s borders with EU neighbours.
In a significant move, Germany recently initiated border controls at its borders with the Czech Republic, Poland, Switzerland, and Austria to tackle the issue of illegal entries. These controls, despite the principle of freedom of movement within the Schengen Area, aim to maintain security and order.
The release of the Federal Police statistics coincides with the opposition party CDU/CSU’s proposal to create a small working group in collaboration with the government. The purpose of this group is to devise effective strategies for managing the divisive issue of illegal migration.
Friedrich Merz, leader of the conservative opposition, presented Chancellor Scholz with a 26-point list of demands, including the proposal for an annual cap of 200,000 on the number of people allowed to enter the country. On Friday, Merz followed up with a letter to the chancellor, suggesting the formation of a balanced bipartisan group.
Merz stated emphatically, “If we want to maintain social cohesion in this country, we must resolve this problem now.” Lars Klingbeil, the leader of Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SPD), welcomed the opportunity to collaborate with the opposition, emphasizing the importance of working together in the democratic centre.
Despite the collaboration, Klingbeil expressed scepticism about the concept of migration caps, stating that he could not imagine the state turning away individuals genuinely fleeing political persecution due to a pre-established cap.
Merz’s proposal envisions the creation of a “German migration pact” with measures designed to significantly reduce illegal entries, alleviate the strain on overburdened municipalities, and rebuild public trust in the government.
The issue of immigration has assumed a central role in German politics, giving rise to the growing popularity of the far-right, anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD), which currently commands around 22% in nationwide polls, outstripping all three ruling coalition parties.
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