53,410 unauthorized entries registered in Germany in 9 months

Germany registered 53,410 unauthorized entries at its land borders in the first nine months of this year, the Federal Police said on Sunday, reported dpa.

A total of 28,321 people were turned back at the land borders nationwide, Sunday's edition of the mass-circulation Bild newspaper reported. The figures were confirmed to dpa by the Federal Police.

Police arrested 1,195 people smugglers and registered 1,088 smuggling operations in the nine-month period. Checks at airports and seaports are not included.

From January to September, officers apprehended 7,783 people for whom outstanding arrest warrants were executed.

Previously committed offences include unpaid fines, serious criminal offences and unenforced detention. In some cases, those detained also included internationally wanted persons.

According to Bild, the highest number of deportations occurred at the borders with Switzerland (9,113), Poland (7,862), Austria (5,468) and France (2,350).

Ukrainians (5,935), Syrians (4,708) and Afghans (2,396) were most frequently turned away. Officials identified 1,482 deported migrants who wanted to re-enter the country.

The police speak of unauthorized entry when a foreigner wants to cross the border without a valid residence permit. A person may be turned back if they do not apply for asylum or if they are subject to a temporary ban on re-entry.

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser justified the order for checks at all land borders from mid-September with irregular migration as well as protection against Islamist terrorists and cross-border crime.

Germany's borders with Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg were affected by the new regulation. Checks had already been carried out at the border with France due to the Olympic Games in Paris.

Checks have been in place at the borders with Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland since mid-October last year and were introduced at the German-Austrian land border in the autumn of 2015.