In September, Germany witnessed the highest influx of irregular migrants since 2016.
Data provided by the German Police, released on Saturday, revealed that more than 21,366 individuals entered the country without authorisation in September of this year, marking the highest monthly count since February 2016.
According to the same source, the figure surpasses the previous record from February 2016, when 25,650 people arrived during the peak of the “refugee crisis.” This increase in unauthorised entries has been part of a seven-month-long trend of rising numbers, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
Further police data also show that between January and September 2023, a total of 92,119 individuals entered Germany irregularly, raising concerns that the country is on course to surpass the 112,000 individuals who irregularly entered in 2016.
Previously, Germany’s coalition government has reached a consensus on a series of measures designed to streamline the repatriation process for some migrants who have entered the country irregularly.
The unveiled migration bill, presented by German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser this month, states that individuals without a legal right to stay in Germany should be forced to leave the country. At the same time, this legislation gives German authorities the necessary powers to facilitate the repatriation of migrants deemed to pose a threat, including people involved in human smuggling and criminal activities.
In addition, the package of measures includes extending the allowed period of detention for persons considered dangerous, extending from ten days to 28 days. It is also intended to provide the authorities with a broader timeframe for the logistical preparations required for deportation.
In a meeting held last Friday in Berlin, Chancellor Olaf Scholz stressed the necessity of carrying out large-scale deportations of individuals who lack the legal right to stay in Germany. In this regard, Scholz noted the importance of fulfilling Germany’s obligation to offer asylum to those in genuine need while also attracting skilled immigrants to strengthen the country’s ageing workforce.
As he explains, this balanced approach reflects the government’s commitment to addressing both the challenges of irregular migration and the country’s demographic and labour market needs.
Moreover, deportations from Germany have increased during the first half of this year compared to the same period in 2022. As a result, between January and June of this year, a total of 7,861 individuals were returned. Among them, over 1,660 were women, and about 1,370 were minors, highlighting the diverse demographics of those subject to deportation during this period.