Germany turning away more undocumented travellers at borders

German authorities turned back more than half the people entering the country without proper documentation over the first half of 2024, a clear rise from last year, the Interior Ministry in Berlin reported on Saturday.

During 2023, the federal police, who are responsible for the country's external borders, sent back only around 28% of those entering illegally. The figures came in a response to a parliamentary question from a member of the hard-left Die Linke party.

According to the response, 42,307 people entering without permission were recorded during the first six months of this year, with 21,661 sent back. In 2023, the federal police stopped 127,549 people, sending back 35,618.

The rise in the number of people refused entry was particularly marked along the borders to Poland and the Czech Republic.

During the period, the number of people requesting asylum at the border fell. Last year, an asylum application was accepted from around 45%, while in the first half of this year, the figure was 23%.

Interior Minister Nancy Faeser ordered permanent checks on the borders to the Czech Republic, Poland and Switzerland in October last year.

Permanent checks have been in place on the Austrian border since 2015. All these countries lie in the Schengen Area allowing free travel across borders, and the imposition of restrictions has to be reported to the European Commission.