Germany expands border checks as new government enforces stricter immigration controls

Germany's new government has implemented tougher immigration policies, including enhanced border controls and turning away some asylum seekers. More than 3,000 people have been denied entry to Germany since the measures were introduced, including 160 asylum seekers. While the interior minister claims the policy is successful, it has faced legal challenges and criticism from neighbouring Poland. A court in Berlin recently ruled that automatically rejecting asylum seekers at the border violates EU rules, but the government may appeal to the European Court of Justice. The controversial policy has broad popular support in Germany, but has led to the emergence of vigilante groups on the Polish side of the border. Critics argue that while controls have intensified at easily monitored border crossings, there are still areas where people can enter Germany unchecked. The effectiveness of the new measures remains unclear, as asylum applications had already been declining due to policies introduced by the previous government. Al Jazeera's Dominic Kane reports from the German-Polish border. Subscribe to our channel: http://bit.ly/AJSubscribe Follow us on X: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/ Check out our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/aljazeeraenglish/ Download AJE Mobile App: https://aje.io/AJEMobile #Germany #Migration #GermanBorderControls #GermanBorderRestrictions #FriedrichMerz #CDU #GermanyPolandBorder #EuropeanUnion #EuropeanCourtOfJustice #AlJazeeraEnglish