Germany’s newly-elected leader, Friedrich Merz, has outlined a strong stance against illegal migration, stating that migrants who enter Germany through the Czech-German border will be sent back to the Czech Republic.
Merz emphasized that for migrants whom Germany does not accept, the Czech Republic could transition from being a transit country to a place of residence due to limited alternatives. “None of those arriving on land at our borders will be able to apply for asylum in Germany. This, among other things, means that migrants who arrive through the Czech territory will then be the responsibility of the Czech Republic,” said Merz’s deputy.
The German government is also set to introduce policies to automatically deport asylum seekers who are convicted of two crimes, including fare evasion.
In response, the Czech Ministry of the Interior has signaled the possibility of retaliatory actions, including the introduction of border controls at the country’s entry points.
