The outgoing Minister of the Interior of Germany Nancy Faeser expects that in 2025 the number of asylum seekers will be lowest in more than a decade. “If illegal migration continues to be halted to the degree that we have succeeded in the past 2 years, the number of asylum applications in Germany may be around 100,000 this year,” said SPD politician Funke media group newspaper. According to the Home Office, the number of asylum applications was lower than 100,000 last time in 2012.
In April 8,840 asylum applications were submitted; in the same period 2 years ago there were almost 20,000 of them – a 55 percent decrease as Faeser calculated. By 30 April 2025, the MMA had a full of 42 460 asylum applications.
Federal police are conducting inspections at all German borders, and since October 2023 they have already turned back over 53,000 people," informed Nancy Faeser, whose position will shortly be taken by CSU politician Alexander Dobrindt.
Joint European actions
Over 2,200 smugglers were detained as part of border control. "All of this takes place in close European cooperation and within the framework of European law," stressed Nancy Faeser. “This is the only way to prevent the failure of these measures in court and the only way to make them effective,” she added.
Faeser stressed the request for further joint action with neighbouring countries in the future. "The fresh Common European Asylum strategy will be a decisive step in further reducing and protecting the EU's external borders", she said.
Further tightening of border controls
From the first day of operation of the fresh coalition government CDU/CSU and SPD, future Home Minister Alexander Dobrindt wants to introduce a tougher approach on migration. – The first decisions will be made after taking office next Wednesday – announced Dobrindt in the paper "Bild am Sonntag". He added, "Boundary controls will be intensified and the number of refusals will be increased". At the same time, he stressed that there would be no closure of borders.
– The numbers on illegal migration must fall – argued CSU policy. "In order for humanitarianism and order to go together, control, clarity and consistency are needed. To this end, we are preparing decisions at national and European level," said Dobrindt.
According to the newspaper, apart from 11,000 national police officers who are presently involved, an additional fewer 1000 officers are planned to be deployed to strengthen border controls.
Greater aerial surveillance
Union countries besides support border controls. The Minister of Interior of Baden-Württemberg Thomas Strobl (CDU) announced "a further crucial increase in border control by the Land Police". Land police are already in action, especially at the Swiss border, carrying out roadside checks and revisions. Air surveillance was besides increased.
Only temporary checks
On Tuesday (6.05.2025) CDU president Friedrich Merz is to be elected Chancellor in the Bundestag. The future head of the Thorsten Frei (CDU) Chancellery Office late announced the tightening of border controls from the first day of the fresh government.
However, Frei pointed out that tightened border controls must be limited to the shortest possible period. "Because we do not want to permanently restrict freedom of movement in the EU or suspend the Schengen Agreement," said the CDU policies. As a transit country and an economical power, Germany would be peculiarly affected by long-term border controls.
