Federal Police Records Significant Decline in Unauthorized Entries in the First Half of 2026

Current Figures from the Federal Police

As the Federal Police announced on Sunday, 3,290 persons who had entered the country unauthorized were registered in June of this year. This is the lowest figure for a June since 2021. The decline compared to June 2025 amounts to 42 percent.

In the first half of the year, the Federal Police recorded 24,329 unauthorized entries – 22 percent fewer than in the comparable period of the previous year. For comparison: From January to June of 2023, 45,338 persons who had entered the country unauthorized were recorded.

Refusals at the Border and Smuggling Crackdown

Looking at a longer period, the Federal Police registered a total of 53,230 unauthorized entries from May 8, 2025, to the end of June this year. In the same period, 38,804 people were turned away directly at the border or in connection with the illegal border crossing.

At the same time, the Federal Police stepped up its crackdown on smuggling crime: 1,561 smugglers were provisionally arrested during the period. The authority sees this as an indication that the intensified controls not only reduce the number of entries but also increasingly target the criminal structures behind the smuggling operations.

The figures were broadcast on July 6, 2026 on the Deutschlandfunk program. They are based on communications from the Federal Police and are regularly drawn upon as a basis for the political debate on migration management and border protection.

Assessment and Outlook

Observers rate the trend as confirmation of the Federal Ministry of the Interior's line, but at the same time see the question of outstanding exceptions for vulnerable groups as politically sensitive. The coming months will show whether the decline holds or whether there will be a renewed seasonal increase.

Overall, the half-year figures illustrate a tangible trend: The combination of comprehensive border controls, refusals at the border, and targeted investigations against smugglers has significantly reduced the number of unauthorized entries. At the same time, the discussion about the humanitarian and legal framework of the measures remains current.