The German border police can no longer summarily reject asylum claims from individuals arriving from neighboring EU countries without proper review, following a Berlin court decision that poses challenges for Chancellor Friedrich Merz's policies.
Berlin Court Orders Review for Asylum Seekers at German Borders
Berlin Court Orders Review for Asylum Seekers at German Borders
A recent ruling emphasizes the obligation to assess claims from asylum seekers from EU nations, complicating the government’s migration strategy.
In a significant ruling delivered on June 2, 2025, a Berlin court mandated that the German border police must investigate the claims of asylum seekers from neighboring European Union countries. This decision came as a setback for Chancellor Friedrich Merz's administration, which has been striving to manage and reduce migration into Germany.
The court's decision arose from a legal challenge by three Somali refugees who had been denied entry at the eastern border and were sent back to Poland under new directives issued by Merz's government. Shortly after taking office, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt instructed border police to turn away certain asylum seekers arriving from other EU nations, aiming to fulfill campaign promises to decrease the number of individuals seeking refuge in Germany.
Despite the ruling, it remains uncertain how it will influence the government's broader migration control efforts, as they are concurrently suspending a program that allows asylum seekers to sponsor their family members. In response to the court's mandate, on Monday evening, Dobrindt expressed confidence that the ruling was specific to the individual case and would not broadly affect existing border policies. He reiterated the government's commitment to its stance on border management and indicated that the legal framework they operate under remains intact.
The court's decision arose from a legal challenge by three Somali refugees who had been denied entry at the eastern border and were sent back to Poland under new directives issued by Merz's government. Shortly after taking office, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt instructed border police to turn away certain asylum seekers arriving from other EU nations, aiming to fulfill campaign promises to decrease the number of individuals seeking refuge in Germany.
Despite the ruling, it remains uncertain how it will influence the government's broader migration control efforts, as they are concurrently suspending a program that allows asylum seekers to sponsor their family members. In response to the court's mandate, on Monday evening, Dobrindt expressed confidence that the ruling was specific to the individual case and would not broadly affect existing border policies. He reiterated the government's commitment to its stance on border management and indicated that the legal framework they operate under remains intact.
