Federal police officer calls for a clear line for illegal refugees: “Basic services yes – but no comfort”

For two weeks now , controls at the borders with neighboring EU countries have been tightened. The new policy: Anyone who cannot claim protection under German law must stay out. Exceptions apply to pregnant women, sick people, and unaccompanied minors. The Federal Police are relying on the national asylum law, which permits measures to maintain internal security. Everything is being viewed with skepticism by neighboring EU countries.

Initial figures are already available: According to Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt , there has been a "significant increase" of 45 percent in the number of rejections in the seven days since his directive. 739 attempts to enter the country illegally were rejected, compared to only 511 in the previous week. Furthermore, although 51 asylum applications were submitted last week, 32 of them were rejected. The previous week, there were 44 asylum applications – all of which were allowed to enter Germany because Dobrindt's directive had not yet been issued.

Meanwhile, Heiko Teggatz , deputy federal chairman of the German Police Union and responsible for the Federal Police, is intensifying the debate about refugee policy. In an interview with the Berliner Zeitung, he makes it clear: border controls work – but as long as Germany remains attractive, the influx will not stop! And he calls for a significant reduction in government incentives for refugees. He explicitly points to the Danish model as a political role model. The German Police Union (GdP) sounds a similar note: Germany must become less attractive for illegal migration by reducing the incentives.

Stricter border controls: Will more migrants be turned back now?

With his directive of May 7, Dobrindt implemented the campaign promise of a "de facto entry ban" made by CDU leader Friedrich Merz in January. The SPD had rejected such a step during the election campaign as contrary to European law. For their coalition agreement, the CDU/CSU and SPD agreed on the compromise that rejections should be carried out "in coordination with our European neighbors."

On Friday, the CSU politician defended his course in the Bundestag: "The citizens expect a change in policy from us," Dobrindt emphasized. This has now begun at Germany's borders. Illegal migration, he said, is endangering the stability of Germany and Europe. In the new minister's view, "a country's capacity for integration" "simply has a limit, and that's why we must act." Cities, municipalities, and districts in Germany are at their limit. For the Interior Minister, this is only a first step in the new black-red government's change of course regarding migration policy. He announced that limiting migration should once again be enshrined as a goal in the Residence Act.

This prompted renewed fierce criticism from the Greens and the Left Party on Friday. They oppose a tougher approach. The Green Party's deputy chairman,Konstantin von Notz , for example, complained that Dobrindt's plans were alienating a large portion of Germany's European neighbors and damaging border regions and the German economy.

Federal police officer Teggatz on stricter controls: “The time is ripe”

The chairman of the DPolG Federal Police Union, Heiko Teggatz, sees the measures as a clear turning point. "When the Greens jump out of their suits twice a week, you know we're doing it right. The time is ripe – we will see a sharp decline in 2025 if we remain consistent," he says. A decline in the number of refugees has already been observed. This trend was already apparent under Nancy Faeser, but now the tightening of border controls is also having an impact: smuggling has become noticeably more difficult and expensive. Austria is also tightening its measures – a domino effect.

He is also satisfied with the initial effects: The number of rejections is increasing, and the gap between unauthorized entries and returns is narrowing. "We'll soon see the effect in the numbers," says the federal police officer.

For him, one thing is clear: the right to asylum remains untouched despite the hard line. "Anyone who says the word 'asylum' will be registered – and if they are turned back at the border, they will be considered a Dublin case in the next country." In the future, proof that those seeking protection came directly to Germany will be crucial – which, according to Teggatz, 99.9 percent cannot prove. Those who travel through safe third countries should no longer have the right to remain in Germany.

DPolG chief demands 3,000 additional wage-earning employees from Dobrindt

But the new course comes at a price: The operational workload for the Federal Police is high. Twelve-hour shifts, sometimes seven days in a row, are now standard. "This cannot be sustained in the long term," warns Teggatz. In a letter to Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, he calls for 3,000 additional salaried employees who could take on non-law enforcement tasks—such as data entry, setting up tents, or processing documents. A similar model had already worked successfully on the eastern border in 1993.

In contrast to the German Police Force (DPolG), the German Police Union (GdP) remains skeptical about stationary border controls. Among other things, it advocates the use of modern technology and increased undercover surveillance along the "green border"—the forest areas and rivers through which smugglers send migrants.

Andreas Broska, head of the Federal Police Directorate, told the Berliner Zeitung that Germany has approximately 3,000 kilometers of land borders: "Of course, they can't be completely closed and secured." According to him, word has spread among smugglers that checkpoints are now in place. "So people are now looking for other routes across the Green Border. The Neisse, which is now not so deep that one can even cross it."

He nevertheless points to the success of the increased border controls: "Since controls have been tightened in several European countries, especially at the external borders, the numbers here have decreased," says Broska, who also sees a domino effect: "They have decreased not only because we have such intensive controls here, but because our neighboring countries also have controls."

GdP chief Broska: “We urgently need AI-based technology”

The GdP has been calling for a modern Federal Police Act for years. The current one dates back to the 1990s, says Broska. "We urgently need AI-based technology, including drones, vehicles, and detection systems, to help our officers better identify smugglers and illegal entries." Like Teggatz, he emphasizes that the controls are an enormous burden for federal police officers . "Many colleagues are asking themselves to what extent these measures will lead to success. This is just one piece of the puzzle, but it's certainly a very media-effective piece."

In addition, the measures led to numerous traffic jams. "Freedom of movement applies in the EU, and the controls have an impact on the economy. Merchants and workers don't like it when they have to take an extra hour to get to work." This is an aspect that Dobrindt claims not to have observed so far. The Federal Minister of the Interior also emphasized on Friday that there were no problems.

Broska also says that during the election campaign, they certainly wanted to send a message against critics. "But ultimately, we believe that there must be a pan-European solution. Germany won't be able to achieve this alone."

Pull factors: "In Denmark, you get 1.50 euros a day. That works."

According to Teggatz, however, it's not enough to simply stop illegal migration at the borders. He told the Berliner Zeitung: "If you really want to do something about illegal migration, you have to address the pull factors. I advocate for a system like the one in Denmark : accommodation, food, basic medical care – but no comfort." The federal police officer continued: "Anyone who breaks the law loses their residency. In Denmark, you get €1.50 a day. That works. Anyone who doesn't have a genuine right to it doesn't want to go there at all. Germany must tighten its residency law – for example, in cases of attacks on police officers."

According to GdP member Broska, it's also important to reduce the pull factors that make Germany so attractive for illegal migration: "By making cuts in the social system or removing other incentives. This certainly won't be as media-effective as the controls, but it's still very important."

This is how generous Germany is compared to other countries

The debate that Germany offers too many incentives has been going on for years, to the dismay of the Greens, the Left Party, and parts of the SPD. Therefore, the discussion, now initiated by police unions, is likely to become heated again. Here's a brief overview of how much Germany contributes compared to other EU countries:

Germany: While applying for asylum, a single person in Germany receives 441 euros per month. Asylum seekers whose application is approved in Germany receive citizen's allowance. The standard rate for single people is 563 euros. In addition, there are costs for housing, heating, and statutory health insurance. Rejected asylum seekers with a toleration permit must endure three years in Germany. After 36 months, they are granted benefits like all German welfare recipients: citizen's allowance, housing and heating costs, and statutory health insurance. Initial restrictions: There is now a payment card in Germany, but not all federal states or cities, like Berlin, have adopted it.

France: An asylum seeker in France receives €440 if they lack accommodation, otherwise only €210. Recognized asylum seekers receive a similar benefit, but no housing allowance. Rejected asylum seekers are denied benefits entirely. The residence status of "tolerated deportation" does not exist in France.

Denmark: Asylum seekers in Denmark receive €217 in addition to their accommodation in a shelter. Rejected asylum seekers must voluntarily participate in planning their return home to continue receiving funding. Those who do not participate receive only food, clothing, and accommodation in a deportation center. In other words: bed, bread, and soap.

Netherlands: In the Netherlands, asylum seekers receive a living allowance of €14.87 per week. This allowance is not paid in cash, but always on a bank card. In addition, there is €38.24 per week per adult and €48.51 per child. If you receive all your meals at the initial reception center, there is no food allowance. Asylum seekers have access to healthcare and are insured against most medical costs and against the consequences of legal liability.

Poland: In Poland, asylum seekers receive only accommodation and food, without financial support. Those recognized as asylum seekers in Poland receive the least, €160. The same applies in Hungary. In Poland, rejected asylum seekers also no longer receive any financial support.

Italy: Asylum seekers receive €77 in pocket money in addition to their accommodation in the shelter. Depending on the facility and region, the money can also be spent in the form of benefits in kind, such as bus tickets and meal vouchers. Asylum seekers also receive a one-time €15 mobile phone credit. In Italy, there is no social assistance available, even for recognized asylum seekers. Rejected asylum seekers receive nothing.

Greece: In Greece, an asylum seeker receives 150 euros during the application process. There is no additional money for housing. Recognized asylum seekers in Greece receive 200 euros plus a housing allowance. Those whose applications are rejected receive nothing.

EU countries also vary in their strictness when it comes to granting asylum status. Denmark has a significantly stricter asylum policy than Germany. Eastern European countries also grant protection status less frequently.

Stricter controls: How the EU's neighbouring countries are reacting

The German approach has not gone unnoticed – especially among its European neighbors. While Chancellor Friedrich Merz defends the course as a "necessary return to order," criticism is growing elsewhere. Poland recently refused to take back two Afghan refugees, citing the Dublin Regulation. The German approach is also being closely observed in Switzerland and Austria. Many view the nation's unilateral approach as a burden on the already fragile European asylum coordination system.

A spokeswoman for the Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP) / State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) told the Berliner Zeitung: "Rejections by the German side are nothing new and were already carried out within the scope of legal possibilities before the German government's announcements. The Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCA) has not detected any changes at the border between Germany and Switzerland since the latest announcements."

Now they realize: Germany is no longer letting everything go.

However, she also adds: "Switzerland is continuously monitoring the development of the situation. And should the situation change, the Federal Council reserves the right to react accordingly." German border measures are expected to be coordinated with Switzerland and in compliance with applicable law – in particular, the bilateral readmission agreement between Germany and Switzerland, Dublin law, and the Geneva Refugee Convention.

Austria, its EU neighbor, is also still calm but vigilant. However, the country, in principle, approves of what Germany is doing. This is the course set by Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker of the ÖVP, it was announced on Friday. A course that the conservative People's Party politician had already agreed upon with CDU politician Friedrich Merz.

Trade unionist Teggatz, on the other hand, currently sees no real conflicts with neighboring countries. "As far as rejections are concerned, things are going surprisingly smoothly. They happen right at the border." He points out that many EU states have themselves violated the Dublin rules for years – and are now surprised that Germany is taking action. "Now they're realizing: Germany is no longer letting everything go."