Berlin, Germany – Some 1,600 people who had been denied entry into Germany at the border have later sought asylum in the country, German authorities have said.
The number of asylum applications from people who had been refused entry since the intensification of the country’s border checks earlier this year reached 1,582 between May 7 and October 31, the German DPA news agency reported, citing a response to a parliamentary inquiry by the Greens.
The government did not say where the asylum seekers applied from.
This comes as Germany’s conservative-led government looks to curb immigration, as promised in its campaign ahead of the 2025 election.
Border checks are normally not conducted within the Schengen area, a border-free zone including most European Union countries as well as a few countries not in the bloc.
But since coming to power in May, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has intensified already placed border checks, and ordered authorities to turn away all asylum seekers except some vulnerable groups.
53% supportive of curbs on migration
Meanwhile, according to a YouGov survey that was conducted on behalf of the German DPA news agency, over 50% of Germans are supportive of reducing immigration linked to asylum seekers.
Those surveyed were asked whether they shared Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt’s goal of reducing the immigration of asylum seekers.
The results showed 53% said they ‘fully’ supported the goal, with a further 23% ‘somewhat’ supportive of the goal.
It also showed that 15% completely or somewhat rejected Dobrindt’s course, with 9% not feeling confident in answering the question or not giving an answer.
Immigration controls had already been put in place by Dobrindt’s predecessor, Nancy Faeser, but since taking over the office in May, he had intensified rejecting asylum applications and ordered officers to turn away people at the border
Exceptions were afforded to pregnant women, sick people and other people belonging to vulnerable groups.
Of those surveyed, only 8% said they see a ‘significant change of course’ following Dobrindt’s measures, while 42% said they see no change.
Over 2,100 eligible voters participated in the survey, conducted between December 12 and 15.
DW
