Germany Rejects More Than Half of Asylum Seekers at the Border

New data released by the German Federal Police show that more than half of the asylum seekers intercepted at Germany’s land borders during the first half of 2026 were denied entry into the country. According to figures provided by German authorities to journalists, the Federal Police recorded 1,024 individuals who submitted asylum applications at the land borders in the first half of the year, with 514 of them being refused entry.

This development coincides with a continued decline in the number of asylum applications in Germany, where approximately 39,646 applications were filed during the first half of 2026, representing a decrease of nearly 35% compared to the same period last year.

Police data also revealed that about one in four asylum seekers registered at the borders had a match in the European fingerprint database (Eurodac), suggesting they may have previously applied for asylum in another European country or had been registered there following an irregular entry.

Following his appointment in May 2025, German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt pledged to strengthen temporary border controls and deny entry to asylum seekers at the borders, with exceptions for individuals requiring special protection, including minors and the sick.