Germany has taken a sharp turn in its migration policy | DW News

 

With measures that they claim will make it easier to deport people, do you think these new measures are going to help in any way? One point that was introduced was prolonging the time before deportations. We've spoken to individuals who carry out deportations, and even police officers have commented on how this change may not have a significant impact. Holding people longer is often costly and may not yield the desired effect. Therefore, we don't anticipate a substantial impact from this new law.

Now, considering some proposals that have surfaced recently on curbing irregular migration, the government announced the expansion of border checks from four to all of Germany's land borders. Do you believe this will deter individuals from entering Germany? The Ministry of Interior declared that border checks will be conducted at all German borders for six months. However, the legal basis for this action was heavily debated, as a serious threat to public order or security must exist to justify such measures. Despite a 20% decrease in asylum claims, the necessity for these extensive border checks remains questionable.

While border checks can assist in apprehending smugglers, they often target minor offenders rather than major ones. Additionally, police officers can deny entry to individuals without valid documents. Nevertheless, border checks come with a myriad of issues, including high costs, labor intensiveness, and inconvenience for daily commuters. Moreover, the diplomatic repercussions of such actions, particularly in strained relationships with neighboring countries, must be considered.

The proposal to establish detention centers at or near the borders for processing Asylum Seekers raises concerns. While it aims to facilitate document verification and potential rejections, it fails to address the diplomatic challenges with other EU member states. Notably, cooperation with neighboring countries is vital for Dublin transfers, which could be jeopardized by strained relations due to these measures. Moreover, detention centers pose financial and human costs, potentially hindering integration and access to essential services for individuals.

Instead of investing in controversial measures, redirecting funds towards supporting local authorities, schools, and services for migrants could be more beneficial. The current focus on migration in Germany, despite a decline in asylum applications, appears to be driven by political motives rather than actual necessity. The prevailing narrative and discourse surrounding migration is unproductive and may not serve the best interests of all parties involved.