Germany increases border control with Poland, Czech Republic
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German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser says the "cruel business" of smuggling and illegal migration must end.
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Federal Minister of the Interior and Home Affairs Nancy Faeser speaks during the government questioning in Berlin, Germany, on Sept. 20, 2023. (AP)
Germany stated on Wednesday that it will strengthen police patrols along "smuggling routes" along its borders with Poland and the Czech Republic in an effort to keep more migrants out.
The new regulations will go into effect immediately, according to Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, and are attributed to the recent raids of residences in connection with a smuggling operation in Germany, which brought in more than 100 Syrians.
Faeser did not specify how many additional border police personnel would be deployed but emphasized that no fixed border checks would be placed, as Germany has done along its border with Austria since 2015.
German Finance Minister Christian Lindner wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that the Ministry would support increased border control "to stop smuggling and illegal migration," adding that 500 forces would be reinforced in order to support the "urgent task".
Last week, the German Economy Minister Robert Habeck announced that German communities are no longer capable of providing accommodation for migrants coming into Germany.
The German Interior Ministry ordered a halt in voluntary migrant intake from Italy, whose Mediterranean island of Lampedusa became the focus of a migrant flood last week, due to "major challenges faced by Germany with regard to its reception and accommodation capacities."
Read more: Italy criticizes Germany for funding migrant charity groups
Faeser stated that further regulations will be implemented in close collaboration with Poland and the Czech Republic. They will be added to the police patrols that have already been watching cars crossing the border or those attempting to enter Germany on foot.
Over 240,000 applicants for asylum in 2022
“We must stop the cruel business of smugglers who put human lives at risk for maximum profit,” according to Faeser.
Migrants from Syria, Afghanistan, and other countries regularly try to reach Germany for asylum. In 2022, nearly 240,000 people applied for asylum in the country compared with over 1 million who applied in 2015-2016.
These numbers do not include the 1 million Ukrainians who entered Germany after the war in Ukraine.
According to Faeser, around 25% of all migrants who arrive in Germany do so by paying thousands of dollars to smugglers who cross perilous routes over the Mediterranean Sea and through Balkan forests.
Analysts say smugglers exist solely because there are no safe and legal channels for people from certain countries to seek asylum in the EU.
A simple visa to the EU is extremely time-consuming and comes with a hefty price, which may result in a rejection.
Faeser claimed that "evasive movements" by smugglers were being prevented, in addition to ensuring that the regulations "have as little impact as possible on people, commuters and commerce in everyday life.”
Faeser also stated that "for a significant reduction of irregular migration, a joint European asylum system remains the decisive step," which would include tightly policing the EU's external borders so migrants do not reach nations like Germany.
