Debate about migration policy: Many call for course change in Germany!

Debate about migration policy: Many call for course change in Germany!

Sinsheim, Deutschland - In Germany it is round when it comes to migration. Since the black and red coalition under Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU), strict checks have been established at the borders, which result in rejections. It shows that these strict rules aim to effectively stop illegal migration. However, Meike Olszak from the Baden-Württemberg refugee council is concerned that the mood among the population has changed noticeably and is increasingly talking about flight and migration in negative contexts. The dignity of the individual device often in the background, which unsettles many refugees to lose their protection status in Germany, as SWR.

In the public discussion about asylum procedural accelerations and simplified deportations, it becomes clear that the federal government is driving a clear course: Asylum applications should be processed faster and rejected in many cases. A draft law on "safe countries of origin" has already been decided without the approval of the federal states and now only has to be done by the Bundestag and Federal Council. Some countries, such as India and Tunisia, could soon be considered safe countries of origin that are thus strapped in the coalition agreement. However, this does not happen without criticism, since Amnesty indicates international violations of human rights in these countries. Administrative practice to reject refugees at the borders of Germany is also heavily discussed, especially since an administrative court has already declared it illegal how Tagesschau explained.

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 decline of 29 percent compared to the previous year. It is particularly striking that the first application for asylum was reduced by 46.2 percent from January to April 2025. These falling figures are not only discussed intensively by politicians, but also by the population. The concerns about overloading the admission facilities are great and the municipalities are literally asking for support, as studies show.

Of course, the political climate also contributed to the right of right. The AfD won over 30 percent of the votes in Thuringia and Saxony in the last state elections and is 20.8 percent in the 2025 federal election. September 2024 surveys show that 77 percent of the population demand a fundamental change in migration policy. Only 32 percent believe that the federal government can actually trace more rejected asylum seekers.

reactions to migration policy

The reactions on this political stage are diverse. While State Secretary Siegfried Lorek demands European solutions, organizations such as Pro Asylum feel reinforced by the practice of rejections to German borders, which they call “smooth broken law”. Olszak from the Refugee Council is dismayed by the hard course, which is preached in many reports. The shift to the right in society ensures that more and more people who previously faced politics want to become active. It is required to focus on the dignity of the individual and to change the discourse.

When we look at society, it should be noted that migration in Germany and Europe is one of the top topics and hardly anyone comes by. People experience not only the effects of the migration discourse, but also the challenges associated with integration. A way out could be in a common European asylum system that is favored by a majority of Germans.