German government touts success of stricter migration policy

BERLIN

The German government on Tuesday defended its strict immigration measures, pointing to a consistent decline in asylum applications as evidence of their effectiveness, months before a crucial general election.

Government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit highlighted the success of recent policies, noting that asylum requests have decreased significantly.

“The federal government's measures are working: The number of asylum applications continued to decline in November, showing a clear downward trend in recent months,” he wrote on X.

Official figures released Tuesday show asylum applications dropped to approximately 15,394 in November, marking a nearly 40% decrease compared to the same month last year.

Germany recorded more than 350,000 asylum applications in 2023, with numbers peaking in October when authorities received nearly 45,000 applications in a single month.

Following the introduction of stricter measures this year, asylum applications have dropped to around 200,000, according to official figures from January through November 2024.

Scholz's Social Democratic Party (SPD) and its coalition partner, the Greens, face mounting pressure over immigration policy ahead of the February 2025 general elections.

Recent polls show migration remains a primary concern for many German voters. The governing parties experienced significant losses in September's regional elections in the eastern states, while the anti-immigration AfD party achieved unprecedented gains.

Europe's largest economy remains a top destination for irregular migrants and asylum seekers arriving in the EU. While most refugees enter Europe via Italy, Greece, or Bulgaria, many travel through the Western Balkan countries to Germany, where they find more opportunities.

In recent months, the German government implemented stricter measures to curb irregular migration, including random checks at border crossing points with other EU member states. German police now turn away individuals at the border who lack proper authorization to enter or stay in Germany.

Under EU regulations, asylum seekers must apply for refugee status in their first country of entry into Europe. Those granted asylum are supposed to be distributed across EU member states, but the system has been dysfunctional for years due to several member states' reluctance to accept refugees.