Germany prevents 70,000 illegal entries via new border controls

border controls migration policy illegal entry deportations Federal Police

German border controls, implemented following the start of Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s administration, have prevented over 70,000 illegal entries between May 8, 2025, and August 15, 2026. According to data from the German Federal Police, this total includes 57,973 unauthorized entry attempts at land borders and 12,639 prevented entries at airports.

At land borders, the most frequent nationalities attempting entry were citizens of Ukraine (7,515), Afghanistan (4,842), and Turkey (4,834). During this period, authorities also apprehended 11,018 individuals with outstanding arrest warrants, 1,672 smugglers, and 1,970 people for political crimes, including extremist and Islamist offenses.

Despite the increase in border enforcement, data indicates that deportations decreased significantly during the first half of 2026. Additionally, the number of voluntary departures from Germany is nearly double the number of official deportations.

Entities

Alexander Dobrindt · Federal Police · Friedrich Merz · German Federal Police · Germany · Merz Government

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 8 SOURCES] There were 57,973 unauthorized entry attempts at German land borders. www.kurierverlag.de · www.times.ba · abcportal.info · www.hna.de · www.mannheim24.de · +1 more
[● 8 SOURCES] 1,970 people were arrested for political crimes, including left-wing, right-wing extremist, and Islamist offenses. www.kurierverlag.de · www.times.ba · abcportal.info · www.hna.de · www.mannheim24.de · +1 more
[● 6 SOURCES] Deportations decreased significantly in the first half of 2026. www.kurierverlag.de · www.hna.de · www.mannheim24.de · www.op-online.de
[● 6 SOURCES] Voluntary departures from Germany are nearly double the number of deportations. www.kurierverlag.de · www.hna.de · www.mannheim24.de · www.op-online.de
[● 8 SOURCES] Police apprehended 11,018 individuals wanted under arrest warrants at land borders. www.kurierverlag.de · www.times.ba · abcportal.info · www.hna.de · www.mannheim24.de · +1 more
[● 8 SOURCES] 12,639 illegal entries were prevented at German airports. www.kurierverlag.de · www.times.ba · abcportal.info · www.hna.de · www.mannheim24.de · +1 more
[● 8 SOURCES] The Federal Police prevented more than 70,000 illegal entries between May 8, 2025, and August 15, 2026. www.kurierverlag.de · www.times.ba · abcportal.info · www.hna.de · www.mannheim24.de · +1 more
[● 8 SOURCES] Authorities apprehended 1,672 smugglers at land borders. www.kurierverlag.de · www.times.ba · abcportal.info · www.hna.de · www.mannheim24.de · +1 more