Irregular Migration

There are many reasons why people from other countries come to Germany: regional conflicts, climate change, energy and food shortages, persecution, poverty, unemployment, poor or no education, discrimination based on gender or religion, and a general lack of prospects in migrants’ countries of origin. But not every kind of migration to Germany and Europe is allowed. The Federal Government does its part to fight the root causes of migration and flight in the various countries of origin; international economic cooperation and bilateral migration agreements are key elements of this policy. Nevertheless, we need to combat irregular migration effectively, also in the framework of the common European migration policy. An effective policy on returns and the prevention of human smuggling and trafficking are especially significant.

Unlawful entry and illegal migrant smuggling

Europe and Germany are fighting irregular migration. This is closely related to the fight against illegal employment, as the hope of illegal employment increases the incentive to enter the country illegally.

The Joint Centre for Analysis and Strategy on Illegal Migration (GASIM) plays a key role here. It brings together the Federal Police, the Federal Criminal Police (BKA), the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), the Federal Intelligence Service (BND), the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), the Federal Foreign Office and the Federal Customs Administration unit responsible for enforcing the law on illegal employment and benefit fraud. Within the Joint Centre, all of these agencies share the relevant information, particularly on migrant smuggling, illegal employment and benefit fraud.

The fight against irregular migration is not only a concern of individual countries; in the interest of further developing a common European policy on immigration, coordinated action is crucial. An effective policy on returns and the prevention of migrant smuggling and human trafficking are especially important, because these are major areas of organised crime.

Organised gangs of human smugglers profit from growing migration by enabling and supporting illegal entry and residence in Germany. In addition, migrant smuggling is often related to other criminal activity, such as document fraud, drug crime, human trafficking and illegal labour. That is why it is important to fight illegal migrant smuggling rigorously and effectively.

National measures to fight irregular migration and migrant smuggling

• Border checks at Germany’s Schengen borders
• Patrols along the internal borders, on trains and on railway property
• Various forms of cooperation in the border regions between the Federal Police, the state police forces and the Federal Customs Administration, such as joint investigation teams and police and customs cooperation centres
• Effective investigation and situation analysis by the Federal Police, Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) and responsible state-level authorities
• Comprehensive, interministerial and interagency analysis of irregular migration, migrant smuggling and related crime at the Joint Centre for Analysis and Strategy on Illegal Migration (GASIM) with the participation of the Federal Police, BKA, BAMF, BND, BfV, the Federal Foreign Office and the Federal Customs Administration unit responsible for enforcing the law on illegal employment and benefit fraud

International measures to fight irregular migration and migrant smuggling

• Deployment of Federal Police officers in the main countries of origin and transit for irregular migration; bi- and multilateral cooperation with the EU member states and with countries of origin and transit for irregular migration
• Federal Police cooperation with their counterparts in neighbouring countries, for example joint patrols
• Secondment of Federal Police border liaison officers to selected countries
• Cooperation with Europol, police assistance with targeted analysis and evaluation in selected investigations
• Cooperation with Eurojust, judicial assistance in selected investigations
• Cooperation with Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard
• Assistance with Interpol operations and analyses

For more information on irregular migration and trends in Germany, please see the Federal Government’s annual migration report (in German only).