CIVICUS discusses Germany’s tightening of border controls with Meral Zeller, Policy Officer with the European Department of PRO ASYL, a civil society organisation (CSO) defending the human right to asylum in Germany and Europe.
The German government recently expanded its border controls, temporarily suspending its passport-free policy as part of the Schengen area. The new migration policy, aimed at stopping what’s labelled ‘irregular migration’, comes at a time when rising anti-migrant sentiments are translating into far-right gains. Governing parties have taken an increasingly hard line on immigration and asylum in the hope of retaining power in next year’s election. This threatens to become a race to the bottom as numerous German states push for stricter deportation rules, reduced social benefits for migrants and restrictions on family reunification. Supposedly temporary measures could become permanent, setting a worrying precedent for other European countries.