Overview

• Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has officially reversed the 2015 Merkel-era directive that allowed undocumented third-country nationals to enter Germany.
• The new measures include rejecting undocumented migrants at the border, suspending family reunifications, and enabling deportations to countries like Syria.
• Up to 3,000 additional border police officers are being deployed, raising the total force to approximately 14,000, with extended shifts and reorganized rosters to enforce the policy.
• The changes are part of Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s coalition agreement, which aims to address voter concerns over irregular migration and counter the rise of the far-right AfD.
• Legal experts and EU observers are scrutinizing the policies for compliance with European Union law, particularly regarding humanitarian exceptions for vulnerable groups.