Implementing nationwide border and internal controls, which were mandated a year ago by Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU), requires the deployment of up to 13,000 to 14,000 Federal Police officers, according to information reported by the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland”. These controls, which intensified on May 7-8, 2025, are set to be conducted continuously, locally adapted, and operate 24 hours a day.
The sheer scale of police involvement spurred by the temporarily reintroduced internal border checks has drawn sharp criticism from various quarters. Andreas Roßkopf, the chairman of the Police Union for the Federal Police, highlighted critical personnel gaps, stating that 5,000 to 6,000 officers are missing from essential locations like train stations. He noted that these stations are key crime hotspots that require increased security presence. Although it would be helpful to utilize Federal Readiness Police units, Roßkopf pointed out these forces are still required for the border operations, deploying 800 to 1,000 officers weekly. He added that while modern technology could make controls more flexible and efficient, reducing the required staff, “little has been done in that direction”.
Furthermore, Marcel Emmerich, a spokesperson for the Green Party in parliament, criticized the impact of the checkpoints, arguing that the roadblocks strain public transport, damage the economy, and infringe upon legal rights daily. He argued that during an economic downturn, the policies put massive pressure on shipping companies and bottleneck goods transport. Emmerich emphasized the hypocrisy of the situation, noting that while Dobrindt frames these measures as maintaining law and order, he obscures the fact that police resources are lacking at train stations, airports, and in combating serious crime, thereby diminishing overall security.
The debate carries significant legal weight. Given that multiple court rulings have deemed the mass refusal and deportation of asylum seekers illegal, Emmerich continued that the Minister’s commitment to continuing these actions suggests an “excess of arbitrary behavior and ignorance toward judicial decisions”. The Green Party has subsequently submitted a formal motion to the Bundestag with the objective of halting these specific practices.
