Germany’s controversial decision to reintroduce border controls is effectively helping the country prevent unwanted entries, according to Germany’s Federal Police Union.
The same has claimed that in the first five days since the new changes took effect (September 16), almost 900 unauthorised entries were detected, Schengen.News reports.
Of the total number of detections, 640 people were turned back, nearly 100 migrants were stopped at the western border, 17 extremists were identified, and 114 arrest warrants were executed.
In an interview with Germany’s Focus Magazine, the Deputy federal chairman of the Federal Police Union, Manuel Ostermann, said that Germany had acted as the moral fortress of Europe for too long, permitting people with little scrutiny and paying a heavy price.
We are witnessing the efficiency of the federal police and, above all, we are once again seeing confirmation of the necessity of border controls.
He told Focus Magazine that his country had almost blindly permitted the entry of persons and acted as the moral fortress of Europe, which brought fatal consequences for Germany.
The Deputy federal chairman of the Federal Police Union said that the migration crisis is increasingly becoming a crime crisis, and its leading part of Germany’s infrastructure is close to collapse.
Schengen Has Failed, Ostermann Said
Ostermann said that the EU’s Schengen Area has failed. He said that hundreds of migrants travel across the EU through safe third countries in order to apply for asylum in Germany, stressing that these facts are “impressive proof” of the failure of Schengen for the time being.
In addition, the Deputy federal chairman of the Federal Police Union told Focus Magazine that it is essential for Germany to implement national measures. He considered the solution of turning back to national law in order to enforce stronger border controls for Germany.
Ostermann said the border control that didn’t take place at the EU’s external border is now being carried out.
Article 16a of the German Basic Law and the Asylum Act are now decisive and define the measures at the borders.
Controversies Amount Following Reintroduction of Border Controls
Germany introduced border controls on September 16 as part of efforts to deal with irregular migration.
Announcing the new changes, German Minister of Interior Nancy Faeser said the new rules would remain effective for six months.
While Germany had already introduced border controls with Austria, Czechia, Poland and Switzerland, from September 16, controls have also been introduced with Belgium, France, Luxembourg and Denmark.
However, Germany’s decision has also been criticised by Czechia, Poland, and Greece, among others.