On July 12, 2024, the now former FDP Secretary General Bijan Djir-Sarai urged an extension of the border controls that were carried out in Germany during the European Championships in an interview with SPIEGEL. He justified this to SPIEGEL by saying that permanent controls were “a necessity” in order to “limit irregular migration to Germany”. This claim is mostly false.
What border controls have there been in Germany so far?
There have been continuous border controls at the border with Austria since 2015. In October 2023, temporary controls were also introduced at the borders with Switzerland, Poland and the Czech Republic, which have been extended several times since then. Most recently, the borders with France were also checked in connection with the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris.
During the European Men’s Football Championship in Germany from June 7 to July 19, 2024, the Federal Police also carried out temporary border controls at all internal land, air and sea borders. Mr. Djir-Sarai spoke out in favour of extending them. And indeed, the Federal Ministry of the Interior ordered temporary border controls at all German land borders from September 16, 2024.

Which border controls are actually permitted?
Freedom of movement is a central principle of the European Union and has enabled travel within the Schengen area without passport controls for almost 30 years. Germany borders exclusively on countries that are also members of the Schengen Agreement, which generally does not provide for border controls.
However, the Schengen Borders Code allows temporary checks at internal borders under certain conditions, for example in the event of serious threats to internal security. These controls are initially limited to six months but can be extended if the threat persists.
And how does Germany justify the recently introduced controls?
The Federal Ministry of the Interior justifies the temporary imposition of border controls by stating that the measure is necessary to further limit irregular migration and ensure the protection of internal security. Djir-Sarai also cites irregular migration as the reason for his call for the aforementioned controls.
Issues such as the execution of arrest warrants or the arrest of smugglers are also part of border controls. However, these are not taken into account in this fact check, which focuses on illegal migration.
What is meant by irregular migration?
The term “irregular” or unlawful residence refers to people who are in Germany without a valid right of residence or toleration and without the knowledge of the immigration authorities. Both unauthorized entry and unauthorized residence are punishable by law.
But are border controls really a “necessity to limit irregular migration to Germany”?
Two key figures are of particular relevance when examining this statement: The number of unauthorized entries into Germany and the number of asylum applications made.
It makes sense to check these figures on the basis of the border controls introduced in mid-September.
Are there any effects on unauthorized entries?
The number of unauthorized entries detected by the Federal Police (as of 28 November 2024) clearly shows that there has been no significant increase in the number of unauthorized entries detected since border controls were tightened in mid-September 2024.
Are there effects on the number of asylum applications?
Asylum applications and irregular migration are linked, as many people first enter a country irregularly to seek protection and then apply for asylum.
The social scientist and migration researcher Gerald Knaus also describes the effect of border controls in his book “Welche Grenzen brauchen wir?” (2020) as limited. On request, he refers to the pages 173-177, where he cites the French-Italian border as an example. Border controls were introduced there from the end of 2015, triggered by the terrorist attacks in Paris in November 2015 – with an unexpected effect: the number of asylum seekers in France rose continuously and reached a peak in 2019 with almost twice as many asylum applications as in 2015.
In Germany, monthly applications (first and subsequent applications) for asylum rose from 19,704 in September to 21,629 the following month. In November, however, the number fell again to 17,730, so it is not yet possible to say exactly what effect the border controls are having on the number of asylum applications. However, it is possible that the stricter controls have led to more people who wish to enter the country illegally applying for asylum directly at the border. The controls do not appear to have a deterrent effect. This is shown by the example of France and the rising number of asylum applications in Germany in October 2024.
Conclusion
The statement by former FDP Secretary General Bijan Djir-Sarai that permanent controls are “a necessity” in order to “limit irregular migration to Germany” can largely be described as false. The number of unauthorized entries into Germany has not increased since the introduction of border controls in mid-September 2024. If you look at the number of asylum applications, the controls have not had any deterrent effect either. However, as the stricter border controls in Germany have only been in force since mid-September, it remains to be seen how the figures will develop in the future.
But as things stand at the moment, permanent border controls can help to limit and control irregular migration; however, their impact remains limited. For this reason, they are not necessary.
RESEARCH | ARTICLE | Sarah Schäfer, Hochschule der Medien Stuttgart, Germany
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