Germany Starts Turning Away Undocumented Migrants at Borders

Germany's new government under Chancellor Friedrich Merz has officially ended the open border policy introduced by former Chancellor Angela Merkel in 2015, which allowed over a million undocumented migrants, primarily refugees from Syria and other conflict zones, to enter the country. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt announced that undocumented migrants will now be turned away at the border, with exceptions made for vulnerable groups such as children and pregnant women. The government plans to strengthen border controls by increasing the number of border police by 3,000, raising the total to 14,000, and implementing gradual pushbacks of illegal immigrants and asylum seekers. Merz emphasized the need to send a clear signal to Europe and smuggling organizations that illegal routes will be increasingly difficult and eventually closed. The policy shift comes amid rising anti-migrant sentiment and the growing influence of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which advocates for even stricter immigration controls. This move reflects a broader effort to reduce irregular migration and restore control over Germany's borders while managing political pressures within the coalition government.