Germany Extends Border Controls by Six Months to September Mid-Year

Germany Extends Border Controls by Six Months to September Mid-Year

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced on February 12 that measures taken to counter the threat of irregular migration and terrorism at its borders will be extended for six months until mid-September this year.

Scholz made the statement in a government declaration released earlier today, emphasizing that the border control measures are effective in preventing irregular migration.

Last September, Germany introduced passport or identity card checks at land borders to reduce the number of unauthorized entries. The measure was initially scheduled to last for six months, aimed at addressing growing concerns over illegal immigration and security issues domestically.

According to statistics from Germany's Interior Ministry, approximately 80,000 instances of irregular migration have been detected in recent months, with around 1,900 smugglers apprehended and some 47,000 individuals denied entry due to forged documents or lost visas.

Since last year, Germany has experienced several violent incidents, prompting renewed concerns over security and immigration issues. A knife attack that occurred in the town of Solingen in August left three people dead, with the suspected perpetrator being a migrant from Syria. In response, German authorities vowed to intensify efforts against illegal migration and terrorism.

German media outlets believe that extending border controls ahead of early elections for the Federal Parliament underscores the significance of immigration as an electoral issue in Germany's upcoming polls.