• Germany’s new government will station more police at borders to curb illegal migration.
• Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt announced plans to reject most asylum seekers.
• Exceptions will be made for vulnerable groups while a crackdown on irregular migration is prioritized.
• The move aims to counter the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
• The changes comply with EU regulations on border controls amid security threats.

Germany's new government is set to enhance border controls significantly as part of a strategy to reduce illegal immigration. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt stated that there would be an increase in police presence at the borders to manage the process more strictly. He indicated that while vulnerable individuals would still be permitted entry, the government plans to reject a larger number of asylum seekers compared to previous standards. "We are not going to close the borders, but we are going to control the borders more strictly and this stronger control of the borders will also lead to a higher number of rejections," Dobrindt explained, emphasizing the gradual increase in police deployments at the borders, which will also include enforcing push-backs against unauthorized entrants, according to Indiatimes and LA Times.

The newly elected Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who succeeded Olaf Scholz, campaigned on toughening immigration policies, especially after a recent violent incident involving a rejected asylum seeker. Merz's administration views increased policing at the borders as a necessary response to rising tensions related to irregular migration. According to reports, Merz indicated that he had consulted with leaders from France and Poland about the new measures and labeled them as "temporary" due to ongoing security concerns within the EU, according to LA Times and Jakarta Post.

Germany's decision to fortify its border police includes an order for thousands of additional officers to enforce the new rules effectively. Dobrindt revealed that 2,000 to 3,000 extra personnel would be assigned to border duties, on top of the existing 11,000 federal officers. The reinforcement aims to balance "humanity and order" in managing migration, tackling the growing influence of the far-right AfD party by demonstrating a stringent approach to irregular migration, according to Jakarta Post.

This hardline stance against undocumented migrants, including those seeking asylum, reflects a shift away from past policies that were more welcoming. Critics within Germany have raised concerns regarding the potential illegality of the measures, arguing they may contradict European Union asylum laws. The coalition agreement between Merz's party and the Social Democrats emphasizes a complete rejection of undocumented arrivals until effective external border protections can be established, as also noted in reports from Indiatimes and LA Times.

The recent convergence of domestic and regional concerns surrounding migration underscores the pressure faced by Merz's administration to respond decisively to public sentiment against immigration. In an effort to maintain political stability, the government aims to address these issues while balancing its commitments to EU regulations around border management, highlighted by Jakarta Post.