Germany to continue denying most asylum seekers entry despite court ruling

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has reaffirmed Germany’s stance to continue denying entry to the majority of asylum seekers, despite a recent ruling by the Administrative Court of Berlin that deemed such refusals at the country’s borders illegal.

However, Merz emphasized that Germany will comply with European Union legislation while maintaining strict border controls, Caliber.Az reports per German media.

Merz underscored the need for maintaining internal border controls until there is a significant improvement in border management through new European rules. “Until the situation at the borders improves significantly with new European rules, we will have to maintain control at internal borders,” the Chancellor stated.

The Berlin Administrative Court’s preliminary decision challenges Germany’s current practice of denying entry to refugees at its borders, potentially limiting the government’s scope in managing asylum claims. Merz responded by acknowledging the court ruling but affirmed that Germany still retains the right to reject applications.

“Yesterday we saw a preliminary decision of the Berlin Administrative Court, which may further limit the scope. But the scope is still there. We know that we can still reject applications,” he explained.

While asserting Germany’s sovereign right to regulate asylum entry, Merz reiterated Berlin’s commitment to abiding by the framework of existing EU laws. “We will of course do so within the framework of existing European legislation. And we will do it also to protect public safety and order in our country and to protect cities and municipalities from being overloaded. This is a challenge that we continue to face,” he added.

Following the assumption of office by Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government early last month, a stringent new policy was swiftly enacted to push back undocumented migrants at Germany’s borders, encompassing nearly all asylum seekers. This decisive measure was implemented despite legal concerns raised by members of Merz’s coalition partner, the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), who questioned the policy’s compliance with national and international law.

The government has emphasized that these pushbacks are a provisional response, underscoring that a sustainable resolution hinges on enhancing security measures at the European Union’s external borders.

According to data released by the Interior Ministry, over 2,800 individuals have been denied entry into Germany within the first fortnight of the policy’s enforcement, including 138 persons seeking asylum.

Migration control formed a central pillar of Merz’s platform during the federal elections held in February. The vote saw the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) secure its strongest showing to date, capturing just over 20 percent of the vote. Merz maintains that a robust stance on migration is imperative to curtail the AfD’s ascendancy and to address public concerns surrounding border security.

By Vafa Guliyeva