Official announcements from the German government or reputable news sources

Merz Proposes Migration Policy Tightening After Aschaffenburg Incident, Sparks Debate

Jan 27, 2025, 05:00 AM

Unionskanzlerkandidat Friedrich Merz has announced plans to tighten Germany's migration policy in response to the recent violent incident in Aschaffenburg. His proposals include the introduction of permanent border controls with all neighboring countries, the rejection of all attempts at illegal entry, and the immediate detention of individuals subject to deportation. Merz has also called for increased support for federal states in enforcing deportation orders and the establishment of federal deportation centers. He has stated that he is willing to proceed with these measures regardless of support from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, though he insists there will be no formal cooperation with them. The proposals have sparked a heated debate, with the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Greens criticizing Merz for potentially breaching constitutional and European law. Despite the controversy, a recent INSA poll indicates that 66% of Germans support Merz's plan, including a majority of SPD voters.