The numbers show that the ‘traffic light’ government has not reduced illegal migration to Germany, but Chancellor Olaf Scholz has claimed in public that “irregular migration [was] significantly reduced” on his watch.
In contrast to the true figures (see below), the German Chancellor declared:
In recent years we have already significantly reduced irregular migration—together with states and municipalities, by the way. That is a great success and shows that it is possible.
Unfortunately for Scholz, his coalition has not reduced illegal migration to Germany. Since he took office in December 2021, the totals of both asylum applications to and known (i.e. recorded) illegal entries into Germany have skyrocketed.
Year
Number of asylum applications
Number of cases of illegal entry recorded by the police
2018
185,853
39,476
2019:
165,938
38,210
2020
122,170
38,334
2021
190,816
41,290
2022
244,132
66,336
2023
351,015
93,158
2024
153,361 (Jan-July)
Sources: Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) and Federal Police
Even 2020’s slight reductions in asylum/illegal entry totals both coincide with the global coronavirus pandemic and precede Scholz’s coalition! Some success.
Lying about the figures goes hand-in-hand with wanting to silence debate about migration. Incredibly, Scholz doubled down on his “significant” reductions by announcing:
We need answers like this on the matter and not debates about open borders for everyone or extremists who are forging their expulsion plans in Potsdam villas.
The not-so-cryptic reference to “Potsdam villas” draws on a publicly funded “exposé” in Correctiv magazine of a secret ‘remigration’ plan to expel German citizens—which turned out to be nothing of the sort. Another lie, in fact.
Graham Barnfield is an assistant news editor for europeanconservative.com.
