Debate about migration policy: many are calling for a change of course in Germany!

Debate about migration policy: many are calling for a change of course in Germany!

Things are going well in Germany when it comes to the topic of migration. Since the black-red coalition under Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) took over government, strict controls have been established at the borders, which result in rejections. It turns out that these strict rules are aimed at effectively stopping illegal migration. However, Meike Olszak from the Baden-Württemberg Refugee Council expresses concern that the mood among the population has noticeably changed and that escape and migration are increasingly being discussed in negative contexts. The dignity of the individual is often pushed into the background, which unsettles many refugees who fear losing their protection status in Germany, as SWR reports.

In the public discussion about speeding up asylum procedures and simplifying deportations, it is clear that the federal government is following a clear course: asylum applications should be processed more quickly and, in many cases, rejected. A draft law on “safe countries of origin” has already been passed without the consent of the states and now only needs to pass through the Bundestag and Bundesrat. Some countries, such as India and Tunisia, could soon be considered safe countries of origin, which are therefore included in the coalition agreement. However, this does not happen without criticism, as Amnesty International points out human rights violations in these countries. The administrative practice of turning back refugees at Germany's borders is also being hotly debated, especially since an administrative court has already declared this to be illegal Tagesschau explains.

The development of asylum applications

The numbers say more than a thousand words: In 2024 there were a total of around 251,000 asylum applications, which means a decrease of 29 percent compared to the previous year. What is particularly striking is that initial applications for asylum fell by 46.2 percent from January to April 2025. These falling numbers are being intensively discussed not only by politicians, but also by the population. There are great concerns about overloading reception facilities, and municipalities are formally asking for support, as studies show.

Of course, the political climate also contributed to the shift to the right. The AfD was able to win over 30 percent of the vote in Thuringia and Saxony in the last state elections and is at 20.8 percent in the 2025 federal election. Surveys from September 2024 show that 77 percent of the population demand a fundamental change in migration policy. Only 32 percent believe that the federal government can actually repatriate more rejected asylum seekers.

Reactions to migration policy

The reactions on this political stage are diverse. While State Secretary Siegfried Lorek calls for European solutions, organizations like Pro Asyl feel encouraged by the practice of rejections at German borders, which they describe as a “blatant violation of the law”. Olszak from the Refugee Council is dismayed by the harsh course preached in many reports. The shift to the right in society means that more and more people who were previously rather neutral about politics want to become active. There is a demand to return the focus to the dignity of the individual and to change the discourse.

If we look at society, it is clear that migration is one of the top issues in Germany and Europe and hardly anyone can ignore it. People not only experience the effects of the migration discourse, but also the challenges that come with integration. A way out could lie in a common European asylum system, which is favored by a majority of Germans.