Between May 8, 2025, and May 7, 2026, officials from the Federal Police confirmed the detection of 47,659 unauthorized border crossings in Germany, according to data reported by “Bild” based on an evaluation from the police’s special reporting unit.
A total of 34,914 individuals were either rejected or pushed back directly at the border or in connection with the illegal crossing attempt. Among those processed, 1,371 migrants were formally rejected under Section 18, Paragraph 1 of the Asylum Act, while 69 were excluded under Section 18, Paragraph 3. Conversely, 294 people were granted the right to apply for asylum due to their membership in vulnerable groups. Furthermore, 1,821 people were prevented from entering because they were subject to entry bans (Wiedereinreisesperre).
In terms of law enforcement actions, 1,415 smugglers were placed under temporary arrest. Additionally, 8,842 people who possessed outstanding arrest warrants were apprehended as bycatch. Many of the individuals seized were identified as belonging to various extremist groups, including those from the left, right, foreign, or Islamist spectrums, for which the police confirmed 1,581 persons.
Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt of the CDU/CSU stated to “Bild” that strengthening border controls sends a noticeable message that Germany’s migration policy has undergone a “fundamental change”. He asserted that these measures represent a successful instrument for dealing a significant blow to criminal smuggling networks.
