An IMGW News Report
Germany’s top contender for the chancellorship, Friedrich Merz, has vowed to overhaul the nation’s migration policies, proposing the introduction of permanent border controls to strengthen national security.
Merz’s call comes in the wake of a knife attack in Aschaffenburg on 22 January, where an Afghan asylum seeker fatally stabbed a 41-year-old man and a two-year-old boy, leaving two others seriously injured. Chancellor Olaf Scholz denounced the incident as “an unbelievable act of terror” and convened urgent discussions with security officials.
Criticising Germany’s existing migration policies, Merz pledged stricter entry requirements. His proposal includes barring individuals lacking valid travel documents, as well as those misusing European freedom of movement. These measures would also apply to individuals entitled to international protection.
Germany has maintained temporary border controls since September 2024 to combat irregular migration and improve security. While these are set to expire on 15 March 2025, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has suggested extending them, citing their success in curbing smuggling and irregular migration.
“Our measures to combat irregular migration and smuggling are proving effective. These controls must stay until the EU’s external borders are better secured,” Faeser stated.
Growing concerns over migration and terrorism have prompted several Schengen countries, including Austria, Italy, France, and the Netherlands, to tighten border measures.
Meanwhile, Bavarian police are investigating the motives behind the Aschaffenburg attack.
