Illegal Border Crossings into Germany Drop Sharply, Says Police

The number of illegal entries into Germany has significantly declined since the start of 2025, according to new data released by the German Federal Police. Officials attribute the drop to intensified border controls and bilateral agreements with neighboring countries aimed at curbing irregular migration flows.

Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser confirmed on Thursday that unauthorized border crossings in April were down more than 40% compared to the same period last year. Enhanced surveillance measures at key border points with Poland, the Czech Republic, and Austria have played a major role, she said.

Faeser also highlighted Germany’s cooperation with transit countries such as Serbia and Hungary, which has led to more rapid identification and return of individuals attempting to bypass formal asylum procedures.

The Interior Ministry emphasized that the government remains committed to protecting the right to asylum, but stressed the need to maintain order and security along national borders. Plans are also underway to further digitize border checkpoints and increase personnel deployments.

The decline comes as Germany prepares for new EU-wide asylum regulations set to take effect in early 2026, which aim to streamline the asylum process and strengthen external border protections.