Border controls in Rhineland-Palatinate: Over 4,000 illegal entries discovered!

Border controls in Rhineland-Palatinate: Over 4,000 illegal entries discovered!

Increased border controls have been carried out at the German borders with Luxembourg, Belgium and France for around eleven months. By the end of July 2025, a total of around 4,100 illegal entries were registered in Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland n-tv reported. The majority of these entries came from France, while significant numbers were also recorded from Luxembourg and Belgium.

The data shows that 2,573 people from France, 1,304 from Luxembourg and 219 from Belgium entered Germany illegally. Of these, a total of 2,365 people were returned: 1,364 to France, 869 to Luxembourg and 132 to Belgium. However, the relevant figures for July are preliminary and could still change. In addition, 144 smugglers were provisionally arrested, while 480 people had outstanding arrest warrants.

Extension of controls

The border controls were ordered on September 16, 2024 for an initial period of six months and were extended in February 2025 for another six months until September 15, 2025. Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) plans to continue these controls beyond September, which is met with criticism from the general public. The stationary controls on the A64 motorway towards Luxembourg, which affect numerous commuters, are particularly controversial, as more than 50,000 German cross-border commuters work in Luxembourg.

The federal police have set up two stationary checkpoints: one on the A64 and one on the border with Belgium. Furthermore, regular checks take place in a 30-kilometer area along the borders. In Rhineland-Palatinate there are a total of 36 border crossings to Luxembourg and Belgium.

Dangers of illegal entry

In the Schengen area, where the borders are generally control-free, travelers must still carry mandatory documents such as ID cards or passports. How the federal police reported, there are always cases of illegal entry using various means of transport, with the focus being on combating smugglers and their organizations.

Smugglers often put people at great risk to life and limb, for example by transporting them in the backs of trucks or in the trunks of cars. High four-digit euro amounts are paid for each smuggling. The Federal Police calls for suspected cases of unauthorized entry or smuggling to be reported immediately, as the consequences for smugglers can range up to fines and imprisonment.