In a significant policy shift, Germany's Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt from the Christian Social Union (CSU) has outlined his agenda for the next four years, emphasizing heightened border security and an increase in deportations.

During a press conference in the Bundestag, Dobrindt characterized the newly introduced border measures as an essential step toward establishing order in the country's immigration policy.

Shortly after taking office, Dobrindt implemented stricter border controls, stating that asylum seekers could be turned away at the borders.

He expressed that citizens expect a change in migration policy, and this transformation is now taking place at German borders.

Accompanied by Bavaria's Minister-President Markus Söder, Dobrindt visited the Austrian border on May 16, 2025, to underscore the importance of these new measures.

In discussions with coalition partners, Dobrindt emphasized the necessity for collaboration, especially with the Social Democrats (SPD), regarding the security apparatus's additional powers outlined in the coalition agreement.

He warned that irregular migration poses risks to the country's stability, invoking a call for unity in addressing the issue.

Critics from various political factions have raised concerns regarding the new measures.

Gottfried Curio from the Alternative for Germany (AfD) deemed the initiatives inadequate, insisting that all those wrongfully admitted must be expelled.

Conversely, Konstantin von Notz of the Greens criticized Dobrindt’s approach as short-sighted, predicting operational limitations due to extensive personnel strain within three weeks.

Left party member Clara Bünger questioned the legal foundation for asylum seeker rejections, labeling the measures as a potential slide into illegality.

Dobrindt also announced plans for more deportations to countries including Afghanistan and Syria.

He indicated intentions to introduce a permanent detention policy for individuals with deportation orders, particularly for potential threats and serious offenders, effectively reducing options to either imprisonment or deportation.

He argued that the tools available to security agencies must be enhanced, confronting past situations where police were placed under general suspicion.

Dobrindt rejected proposals such as control receipts—documents issued to individuals stopped by the police—that aimed to prevent discriminatory profiling practices based on race or appearance, citing them as counterproductive.

Additionally, Dobrindt stated that the government would enforce mandatory data retention for IP addresses to aid in combating serious crime and that the powers of intelligence services would be expanded to facilitate efficient data exchange.

The SPD's Lars Castellucci highlighted the importance of avoiding blanket accusations against entire groups, warning that such tactics could lead individuals away from integration.

He noted that the coalition agreement failed to recognize Islam as a fundamental aspect of religious diversity within Germany, which he regarded as a significant oversight.