Since the expanded border controls were implemented in May 2025, the Federal Police have prevented more than 28,000 people from entering Germany. According to figures cited by the Federal Ministry of the Interior, a total of 28,684 irregular migrants were turned away at the border between May 2025 and April 7, 2026. Of those rejected, 1,242 were asylum seekers, while the entry of 1,104 irregular migrants was permitted because they belonged to a vulnerable group, such as unaccompanied minors.
Furthermore, the number of asylum applications submitted in Germany during this period saw a reduction, being more than halved compared to the previous year. Between May 2025 and March 2026, the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) recorded 85,280 asylum applications (data for April is not yet available). This contrasts sharply with the 181,337 asylum applications registered between May 2024 and March 2025, reflecting a decline of approximately 53 percent.
While these figures suggest a declining number of new asylum applicants arriving in Germany, it also indicates that many irregular migrants continue to successfully enter the country. Moreover, it cannot be ruled out that individuals previously rejected at the border may successfully enter and file an asylum claim at a later date. According to a spokesperson for the Federal Ministry of the Interior, data specifying how many applicants were previously turned away at the border are not available.
