German Opposition Leader Friedrich Merz Calls for Strict Migration Overhaul Ahead of Election

Merz, the frontrunner for chancellor, vows tighter border controls and expedited deportations following a deadly knife attack linked to a rejected asylum-seeker.

Friedrich Merz, leader of Germany's CDU/CSU alliance, has pledged permanent border controls and the rejection of all undocumented entries, including asylum-seekers, if elected chancellor on February 23.
Merz's proposals include increasing detention capacity, suspending family reunification for certain asylum-seekers, and resuming deportations to countries like Afghanistan and Syria.
The campaign rhetoric follows a knife attack in Aschaffenburg, where a rejected Afghan asylum-seeker with a history of violence killed two people, including a child, reigniting debates on immigration policy.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz, whose SPD party trails in polls, has condemned the attack and called for immediate action, while defending his government's record on deportations and border controls.
Merz has also criticized EU migration laws as dysfunctional and vowed to prioritize national law, while facing pressure from the far-right AfD, which is polling in second place.