Germany Extends Temporary Border Controls Until September 2026 Amid Migration Concerns

Germany's government has announced the extension of temporary border controls for an additional six months, now expected to last until at least mid-September 2026. This decision stems from ongoing challenges related to migration and border security that have pressured local authorities and the Interior Ministry. These controls were initially introduced in September 2024 and have already been extended twice prior.

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt of the Christian Social Union (CSU) outlined plans to maintain the border measures, citing that since their implementation, authorities have recorded 68,000 unauthorized entries and turned away over 46,000 people at the borders. Interior Ministry spokesperson Leonard Kaminski emphasized the continued overwhelming burden on local authorities and the need for enhanced order in migration policy to address what he described as a “non-functioning European migration policy.”

The re-established border checks, which contradict the Schengen Agreement’s general aim of free movement within EU states, are also applied by neighboring countries such as Poland and Austria. Germany’s previous government, led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, initially introduced the controls in response to a series of deadly attacks attributed to foreigners, aiming to restore order and safety.

Since Chancellor Friedrich Merz took office in May, his coalition has intensified border security by increasing police presence to enforce stricter migration policies, including making it more difficult for family reunification of refugees. Despite a June court ruling that criticized the government's practice of returning Somali asylum seekers to Poland without individual reviews, the border controls remain firmly in place. According to Kaminski, nearly 50,000 individuals have been returned since mid-September 2025.

The migration issue remains a key focus for Chancellor Merz, who faces political pressure from the right-wing populist Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party, which is polling closely with his conservative CDU. This extension reflects the government's ongoing hardline stance on migration amid domestic political competition and security concerns.

Germany's Border Control extension illustrates the continuing challenges that the country faces in balancing open European borders with national security and orderly immigration, alongside simmering political debates.