Germany strengthens controls and deportations of migrants

From May 6, 2025 Germany has introduced the most stringent changes in migration policy in decades. At the centre of the reforms announced by future Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his colleagues is the complete rejection of illegal migrants already on the border.

New CDU-SPD government announces so-called ‘return of asylum’, which includes both strengthening border controls and a deep improvement of asylum and deportation procedures. The authorities declare that As of May 6, no 1 who enters Germany illegally will be allowedand asylum applications will only be accepted at the external borders of the European Union.

Strengthening control and immediate return of migrants

As promised Thorsten Frei, close associate of Merz and future head of the Chancellery, extended and intensified individual checks will apply from the first day of the fresh government. ‘The journey will end at the border“ He said in a conversation with German media.

Under the fresh rules, migrants will be immediately returned to the countries by which they reached Germanybased on EU Dublin law, ordering the lodging of an asylum application in the first EU country to which it has arrived.

CDU representatives propose that France, Poland and Austria they would be in favour of these solutions, although there is no clear confirmation from these countries," notes the portal Merkur.de.

Asylum reform: less investigations, faster sentences

At the same time as border controls, the fresh government plans reform of asylum judicial procedures. As proposed, the judges will no longer conduct independent investigations, but to be based solely on the files collected. specified a strategy is meant to let shortening the time of case handling from more than 1 year to respective months.

However, this change raises doubts. International law experts warnthat fresh provisions may violate human rights conventions and EU treaties, limiting the right to a fair trial.

Deportations to Syria and Afghanistan return

The CDU-SPD coalition besides plans reactivation of deportations to countries so far considered dangeroussuch as Syria and Afghanistan. To begin with, they are to include migrants convicted of criminal offences, but government representatives do not regulation out the extension of these activities.

Alexander Dobrindt, future Home Secretary, indicated that the aim is to guarantee public safety and restoring assurance in the asylum system. The government is besides planning extension of the detention period prior to deportation for those who do not want to leave the country voluntarily.

Algeria, Morocco, India and Tunisia on the fresh list of “safe countries”

The changes will besides include the extension of the alleged list. "Safe countries of origin"to whom asylum applications may be rejected more quickly. I want that list on the list. Algeria, Tunisia, India and Morocco. The position of these countries means that migrants from these countries will be much little likely to gain protection in Germany.

2024 data: less applications, more court proceedings

According to government data, 229,751 asylum applications were submitted in Germany in 2024what constitutes decrease by about 100,000 compared to the erstwhile year. Still, Number of asylum-related court cases exceeded 130 000of which only 18% affirmative for applicants.

The fresh administration wants to reverse this trend through Digitalisation of proceedings and the usage of artificial intelligence in the evaluation of the file. The goal is to reducing the burden on courts and faster enforcement of deportation decisions.

European context and possible tensions

Although the German government claims that acts in accordance with European Union law, its reforms may make tensions with neighbours and EU institutions. Especially controversial can be rejecting migrants already at the border and limiting the function of courtswhich may be considered a violation of the right to asylum and the right to a fair trial.

What's next?

If the announced reforms actually enter into force on 6 May, they will mean The start of a fresh phase of German migration policythe effects of which may affect the full European Union. Legal, humanitarian and political issues will most likely be the subject of sharp debates in the coming months, both in Berlin and Brussels.