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The UNHCR has voiced its concerns regarding Germany's recent move to enhance border controls and deny asylum seekers entry at its borders.
Katharina Thote, the UNHCR representative in Germany, informed dpa of the agency's apprehension about the government's decision to halt asylum applications at the border.
She emphasized that Germany has long been a crucial partner for the UNHCR and continues to be a significant asylum destination in Europe.
Stricter border measures were enacted following the directive of newly appointed Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt last Wednesday, with certain exemptions for vulnerable groups, including heavily pregnant women, mothers with young children, and those with serious health issues.
These actions followed the inauguration of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservative-led government, which pledged to sustain existing temporary border checks and to deny entry to illegal migrants at the border, even if they seek asylum.
Thote remarked that international law does not require refugees to seek asylum in the first country they arrive in. In certain instances, they may be relocated to other safe nations as long as their rights are safeguarded and it contributes to a fair distribution of responsibilities among countries.
Nevertheless, restricting entry to all asylum seekers could jeopardize the principle of equitable distribution.
She urged Germany to adhere to current EU agreements on handling asylum claims.
Germany has a history of rejecting entries for individuals lacking valid visas. However, these measures have primarily been directed at those who either did not file for asylum or had previously been prohibited from entering the country, such as after deportations.
A spokesperson for Germany's interior ministry stated that it is premature to evaluate the full ramifications of this policy. Since January, 45,681 individuals have submitted first-time asylum applications in Germany, a decrease from 84,984 during the same timeframe last year, indicating a 46 percent drop.
