The Prime Minister of the German State of Hesse has urged for comprehensive controls at the external borders of Germany, urging the Minister of the Interior, Nancy Faeser, must order this immediately in order to halt illegal immigration, according to a Globe Echo report.
“The federal government must finally ensure fewer people come to Germany illegally. To do this, we need comprehensive controls at Germany’s external borders,” Hesse’s Prime Minister told “Bild am Sonntag”.
He further claimed that Bavaria shows how significant border checks are at their external borders. However, he stressed that border security is not the primary responsibility of the Prime Minister but the responsibility of the Federal Minister of the Interior.
Rhein said that appropriate measures must be implemented immediately by Nancy Faeser.
“I would very much welcome it if she finally ordered nationwide border controls by the federal police – at least at the particularly busy internal borders,” Rhein pointed out.
In addition, Rhein also urged for a more stringent asylum policy, emphasizing that all states with an asylum recognition rate of less than five per cent must become safe countries of origin.
“The repatriation offensive announced by the federal government must also be implemented immediately. However, the traffic light, unfortunately, does the opposite and relies on unlimited openness”, he told the “Bild am Sonntag”.
The increased number of unlawful border crossings registered in Germany this year led the country’s authorities to unfold plans to tighten border controls.
In May this year, the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, announced plans to intensify controls at the country’s borders, urging the EU partners to construct asylum centers around the EU states.
Authorities in Germany continue to receive a large number of asylum applications. According to the figures from the German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), for a period from January until March this year, a total of 87,777 people sought asylum in this country.
The same source noted that while a total of 978 were initial requests, another 6,799 were follow-up requests. A total of 80.3 per cent increase was noted in the January-March period figures of this year, compared to last year’s same period figures.
According to the federal police, from January to June this year, a significant increase has been noted in the number of unauthorized entries at the German borders.
The same source says that in the first half of this year, a total of 45,338 people unlawfully reached the country, compared to 29,174 registered during the same period last year.
