# German and Polish border control and migration enforcement

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/german-border-control-and-migration-enforcement
> Updated: 2026-09-10T11:00:32.000Z. Sources: 30. Developments: 5.

Following the start of Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s administration, Germany implemented new border controls to address irregular migration, human trafficking, and public security. Between May 8, 2025, and August 15, 2026, the German Federal Police reported that these measures prevented over 70,000 illegal entries. Germany has maintained and intensified these land border controls, extending measures to its borders with France, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and Poland. On August 25, 2026, the German government announced an extension of these land border controls, scheduled to remain in effect until at least March 15, 2027. On September 3, 2026, Poland announced plans to extend temporary border controls with Germany and Lithuania for six months, from October 2, 2026, to March 30, 2027, citing migration routes through Belarus and the Baltic states. Additionally, the Polish Ministry of Justice proposed harsher penalties for human smuggling, including up to 20 years in prison for smuggling resulting in death. However, the Polish Supreme Court cautioned that increasing fines for illegal crossings could inadvertently penalize tourists or mushroom pickers. In Germany, the government has adopted a draft law to utilize artificial intelligence (KIMVG) for managing migration. This legislation aims to use algorithms to automate visa and asylum procedures and verify information via social media. Human rights organizations have criticized the move, citing risks of systemic discrimination and errors arising from potentially flawed databases. By September 5, 2026, German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt indicated that current regulations, originally set to expire in September 2026, are expected to be extended for an additional six months. This follows migration pressures including a crisis in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. Minister Dobrindt also expressed intentions to establish “return hubs” located outside of Europe to facilitate deportations.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-10: Germany intensifies border controls, leading to Swiss rejections

Germany has intensified border controls since September 2024, resulting in the frequent refusal of travelers using false documents and their subsequent return to Switzerland.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/germany-intensifies-border-controls-leading-to-swiss-rejections

### 2026-09-05: Germany to extend land border controls through 2027

Germany plans to extend land border controls into 2027 to curb unauthorized migration following recent border pressures in Ceuta and ongoing debates over Schengen Area security.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/germany-to-extend-land-border-controls-through-2027

### 2026-09-03: Poland and Germany implement new migration and border security measures

Poland is extending border controls with Germany and Lithuania and proposing harsher smuggling penalties, while Germany moves to use AI for managing asylum and migration procedures.

10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/poland-proposes-harsher-penalties-for-human-smuggling

### 2026-08-25: Germany extends border controls through March 2027

Germany has extended land border controls until March 2027 to manage migration, while new data shows a shift in regional migration trends, with Germany seeing a net outflow of people from Central and Eastern-EU

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/germany-maintains-intensified-land-border-controls

### 2026-08-21: Germany prevents 70,000 illegal entries via new border controls

German border controls prevented over 70,000 illegal entries between May 2025 and August 2026, while authorities apprehended thousands of wanted individuals and smugglers.

13 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/germany-border-controls-prevent-70000-illegal-entries

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Cite as: German and Polish border control and migration enforcement. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/german-border-control-and-migration-enforcement