In a troubling trend, Germany has reported a significant rise in illegal border crossings by Ukrainian migrants, making them the most frequently denied applicants in the country. As tensions in Ukraine continue and the conflict persists, many individuals are seeking refuge in Germany, yet strict border enforcement measures have led to thousands being turned away. This article explores the recent statistics and implications of these developments for both migrants and German immigration policy.
Illegal migrants from Ukraine have become the most frequently denied applicants, according to a Germen media report.
Citing data tracked by the Federal Police, Bild am Sonntag reported that German authorities have turned away 5,935 Ukrainians who were trying to illegally cross the country’s borders from January through September 2024.
RT reports: Ukrainians have been ranked as the most frequently denied applicants at Germany’s land borders alone, followed by Syrians and Afghans, the number of rejection to whom totalled 4,709 and 2,396 respectively.
A crossing attempt is seen as illegal, when a migrant tries to enter without a valid residence permit, according to the police as cited by the newspaper. Rejections are also possible especially if entrants are not registered as asylum seekers or if they are temporarily banned from re-entering the country.
In total, the German Federal Police detected 53,410 illegal entry attempts into the country in the first nine months of 2024. Most of the rejections occurred at Germany’s border with Switzerland (9,113 people), Bild noted. They were followed by the control points on the borders with Poland, where the police turned away 7,862 people, Austria and France, that recorded 5,468 and 2,350 illegal entry attempts respectively.
The German authorities reportedly identified 1,482 deported migrants, who attempted to re-enter the country despite the previously issued ban. Moreover, the police arrested 1,195 smugglers and uncovered 1,088 smuggling operations. The total number of arrests from January to September reportedly amounted to 7,783.
Germany has become the the prime destinations for Ukrainian refugees in the EU since the conflict between Moscow and Kiev escalated in February 2022. The bloc’s economic powerhouse has accepted almost 1.1 million Ukrainian migrants as of June 2024. Poland has accepted 960,000, according to Statista. Russia welcomed over 5.3 million Ukrainians, official data from early 2023 demonstrates.
In addition, Germany has continued to accept migrants from other countries amid ongoing crises in the Middle East and Africa, with total refugee arrivals reaching 2.67 million and 1.93 million in 2022 and 2023 respectively.
In September, the federal government tightened border controls for at least six months, emphasising that the measure could be further extended. The authorities launched a series of random checks at border crossings with Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and France, thus expanding the system already in place at its other borders to the entirety of the country’s frontier.
Border crossings with Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland have been brought under control since mid-October last year. Controls were also introduced at the German-Austrian land border in autumn 2015.
As of now, the situation regarding Ukrainian migrants in Germany remains complex. Germany has welcomed nearly 1.1 million Ukrainian refugees since February 2022 due to the ongoing conflict, making it a primary destination in the EU. However, the rise in illegal border crossing attempts has prompted authorities to enhance border controls, reflecting a growing concern over illegal immigration. The tightening of border security, including random checks and increased surveillance, indicates a shift in policy aimed at managing not only Ukrainian migration but also the inflow from other regions facing crises. Data from 2024 shows a continued emphasis on border enforcement, highlighting the challenges of balancing humanitarian responses with security measures.