Significant surge in unlawful immigration to Germany anticipated in 2023.
Unauthorized immigration into Germany sees a substantial surge in 2023. As per the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) based in Wiesbaden, law enforcement recorded 266,224 individuals under suspicion for breaching entry and residency regulations within the last year. This represents a roughly one-third (33.4%) hike compared to the preceding year. Vast majority of these suspects were apprehended by the Federal Police.
As per data from the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders, approximately 380,200 unauthorized border crossings were recorded over the EU/Schengen external borders throughout the year. This is the highest annual figure since 2016.
In the German context, Syria (54,207 individuals), Turkey (35,732 individuals), and Afghanistan (35,370 individuals) were the primary nations of origin among the apprehended individuals. The BKA confirmed that smugglers played a significant role, often utilizing compact vans during their journeys. According to the BKA, "Smuggling organizations are becoming progressively daring and disregarding the individuals they're trafficking, bystanders, and on-duty police forces to evade detection and prosecution."
In response to the increased unauthorized immigration, Germany strengthened its border patrols in 2024. During this period, German border guards intercepted several groups from Syria, Turkey, and Afghanistan, countries with significant unauthorized immigration into Germany.
The German government, alarmed by the surge in unauthorized immigration from Germany's neighboring countries, initiated talks with EU member states in 2024 to establish a coordinated response strategy.
