- Thirty-five individuals boarded trams for unauthorized passage
Within a short span, over 30 individuals, reportedly asylum seekers, supposedly tried to sneak into Germany from Basel utilizing the tram. According to law enforcement, a total of 35 individuals hailing from various nations were discovered lacking legitimate entry documents during a check at the Weil am Rhein-Friedlingen border crossing (Circle Lörrach). Approximately 31 of these individuals were from Syria, including youngsters and kids.
These individuals were documented by the police and subsequently directed to a central reception facility or sent to the juvenile welfare office. A criminal investigation was launched against the refugees who had illegally entered the nation.
Routine border checks conducted by the federal police aim to curb unauthorized immigration and human trafficking on the Swiss tram. While fixed border controls are not a standard practice within the Schengen area, to which non-EU nation Switzerland also belongs, these stationary border controls were previously announced by Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser (SPD) at the borders with neighboring countries Poland, Czech Republic, and Switzerland for a period of ten days last October, and then were extended multiple times.
The individuals discovered without legitimate entry documents at the Weil am Rhein-Friedlingen border crossing were not just from Syria, but also included others, such as the Swiss. The announcement for strengthened stationary border controls was made by Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser, affecting neighboring countries Poland, Czech Republic, and Switzerland, including the Swiss tram.
