Germany Rejects 1,000 Asylum Requests at Borders

German authorities rejected around 1,000 asylum applications at the country’s borders in 2025, according to official data released by the government in response to a parliamentary inquiry from the Left Party.

The figures show a significant shift in irregular migration patterns. Federal police recorded a sharp drop in illegal entries at Germany’s borders with Poland and Switzerland compared to 2024, particularly among individuals lacking valid visas or residence permits.

In contrast, illegal crossings from the Netherlands rose notably, reaching 4,494 cases in 2025, up from 2,863 the previous year. The increase prompted German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt and Dutch Migration Minister Bart van den Brink to agree on strengthening joint border controls during recent talks in Berlin.

Meanwhile, crossings along the French border also increased slightly, with about 10,500 cases recorded in 2025 compared to 9,600 in 2024.

Germany stepped up border inspections shortly after Dobrindt took office on May 7, allowing authorities to turn back asylum seekers at land borders. Previously, such measures mainly applied to individuals without asylum claims or those banned from re-entry. Exceptions remain in place for vulnerable groups, including pregnant women, children, and the sick.

Official data from federal police show that total illegal entries into Germany dropped to 62,959 in 2025, a 25% decrease compared to the previous year.

About two-thirds of foreign nationals caught attempting to enter irregularly were turned back, although only a small number formally applied for asylum.

Between May and the end of December 2025, 996 asylum seekers were denied entry at Germany’s borders. Authorities cited reasons including arrival from designated safe third countries, responsibility of another EU state to process the claim, or public safety concerns.

Migrants from Afghanistan, Turkey, and Algeria were among the most affected groups returned after submitting asylum requests, according to government data reviewed by the German Press Agency.

Clara Bünger, an asylum policy expert with the Left Party, said the relatively low number of recorded asylum applications among those turned back suggests that some individuals may not have had their claims properly registered. She called on the German government to end internal border controls within the European Union.