Germany: Majority supports border controls and repatriation of migrants – poll

According to the representative survey According to the YouGov Institute for the German news agency dpa, conducted from 6 to 10 September, 71 percent Germans supports sending back migrants at the border. 21 percent of Germans are against sending back migrants at German borders.

It was noted that it is already possible to return immigrants directly at the border, e.g. for foreigners who do not have a visa and do not apply for asylum, and for people with an entry ban.

Respondents were also asked whether they supported border controls and, if necessary, border closures as a measure to curb migration. 45 percent of Germans said they were “fully in favor” of such a measure, while another 28 percent were “rather in favor.” Every fifth respondent was opposed to border controls and border closures, the dpa news agency reported.

The vast majority of Germans (82%) believe that more people without the right to reside in Germany should be deported. 11% of respondents were against it and 7% had no opinion on the matter.

On Monday, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser announced that temporary controls would begin on all of the country's land borders on September 16. The controls are to remain in place for at least six months.

Germany's decision was criticized by, among others, the heads of government of Poland and Greece.Prime Minister Donald Tusk assessed on Tuesday that the decision of the German authorities to restore control is “a de facto suspension (of the functioning) of the Schengen area on a large scale”.

He also announced that Poland would ask other countries affected by Berlin's decision for urgent consultations on the action at the European forum. According to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, unilateral elimination of the rules Schengen Area cannot be the answer to the migration issue.