A significant decline in asylum applications and irregular border crossings is being reported in Germany, according to a letter from CDU/CSU parliamentary group deputy leader Günter Krings circulated among Union parliamentarians. The figures, confirmed by relevant authorities to “Bild”, paint a complex picture of shifting migration patterns and the impact of increasingly restrictive policies.
Since May 7th, 2025, approximately 21,000 individuals have been rejected at the German borders, including over 1,000 asylum seekers. This figure raises questions about the due process afforded to those seeking refuge and the potential for human rights violations at the frontier. Simultaneously, federal police have apprehended 954 suspected human smugglers, highlighting the continued operation of criminal networks facilitating irregular migration. The number of executed outstanding arrest warrants – 5,309 – also points towards intensified law enforcement efforts targeting both migrants and those assisting them.
The reduction in detected irregular entries is particularly noteworthy. November 2025 saw 4,697 such instances, a 24% decrease compared to 6,153 in the same month of 2024. While this represents a tangible reduction, analysts caution against interpreting it solely as a success of current policies. Factors such as diverted migration routes, increased border security measures elsewhere in Europe and potential limitations in recording accuracy might play a role.
The precipitous drop in asylum application numbers is the most striking statistic. Between January and November 2025, 106,298 initial asylum requests were filed, a stark contrast to the 216,861 during the same period in 2024 and the 304,581 in the first eleven months of 2023. This represents a reduction of almost two-thirds over the past two years.
This dramatic decline, however, is not occurring in a vacuum. Critics argue that it could be, at least in part, a consequence of the increasingly stringent criteria for asylum eligibility introduced by the German government, coupled with a growing perception of limited prospects for successful integration. Concerns are being raised over the potential for vulnerable individuals, genuinely fleeing persecution, being dissuaded from seeking protection. Furthermore, the data fuels the ongoing debate within Germany concerning the effectiveness of restrictive border measures and their impact on humanitarian obligations. The long-term implications of this shift in migration patterns – both economically and socially – remain to be seen and demand careful scrutiny.
