Following a period of extensive monitoring, the Federal Police have revealed that there were 154 unauthorized entries at the German-Danish border between mid-September 2024 and the end of February 2025. Out of these, 128 individuals were sent back due to lacking the necessary documentation, according to a report by the police.
The Federal Police additionally reported that they identified six suspected smugglers and executed 41 arrest warrants during this time frame. Alarmingly, they also discovered one individual connected to extremist activities.
These checks have been ongoing since September 16, 2024, at the land borders with several countries, including France, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Denmark, as ordered by Interior Minister Nancy Faeser from the Social Democratic Party (SPD). While the Schengen Area typically does not allow for internal border checks, these can be temporarily imposed to combat human trafficking and irregular migration.
Similar controls have been in operation at the borders with Poland, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland since mid-October 2023, while the German-Austrian border has had such measures in place since the autumn of 2015.
Though not every traveler is checked at these borders, the Federal Police have stated that travelers should expect to be subject to scrutiny.
According to data released by the Federal Police, the total unauthorized entries across all German borders reached 25,826 up until March 2, 2025. This figure includes 16,403 individuals who were either turned away directly at the border or in connection with illegal crossings. In addition, 930 individuals with re-entry bans were denied entry into Germany, and 613 suspected smugglers were temporarily detained.
Moreover, police enforcement resulted in the execution of 4,066 open arrest warrants, and 436 individuals affiliated with extremist and Islamist groups were identified.
Despite these efforts, the overall trend in unauthorized entries appears to be declining. In the first two months of 2025 alone, the Federal Police noted 9,944 unauthorized entries, down from 12,904 during the same period the previous year. For comparison, there were 12,955 unauthorized entries recorded in January and February 2023.
For the entirety of 2024, the Federal Police reported a total of 83,572 unauthorized entries, significantly lower than the 127,549 unauthorized entries noted in 2023.
This marked decrease reflects ongoing efforts by the police to control and monitor borders, as well as shifting migration patterns across the region. As these statistics highlight, the Belgian, Dutch, and Danish land borders are experiencing reduction in unauthorized entries due to reinforced checks and legal measures.
In summary, Germany is navigating complex challenges at its borders, balancing security needs with humanitarian concerns, and continuing to adapt its strategies to manage immigration and border control effectively.
