Half of Asylum Seekers Detained at German Land Borders Are Refused Entry
In the first half of 2026, the Bundespolizei turned away more than half of the people who filed asylum requests after being caught crossing Germany’s land borders illegally.
The Bundespolizei reported that in the first half of 2026 it intercepted numerous illegal entries at Germany’s land borders, with only a limited number of detainees filing asylum claims. More than half of the claimants were denied entry and sent back at the border. Most unauthorized crossings were detected along the French border, whereas the Polish border saw the greatest proportion of refusals.
The policy stems from a 2025 order by Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt allowing border officials to reject asylum seekers, except for particularly vulnerable individuals. German courts have questioned the legality of such expulsions, and the European Commission has reminded Germany that re-instating border checks does not override EU asylum obligations. The government plans to extend these border controls until at least March 2027.
