Germany has introduced stricter controls at airports and ports, particularly concerning asylum applicants who have already submitted applications in another EU member state. The reforms aim to significantly shorten the asylum procedures for these individuals while extending the time frame for their deportation back to the first country where they applied. Additionally, federal states in Germany are now permitted to establish detention centers for expelling individuals to other EU countries.

In a notable change, asylum seekers residing in reception centers will now be allowed to work after just three months of arriving in Germany, halving the previous waiting period of six months. This adjustment will also apply to those not living in asylum centers, enabling them to seek employment after four months. These reforms have sparked considerable debate, particularly with the Alternative for Germany (AfD), the strongest opposition party, criticizing the laws as weak and insufficient, framing them as a misleading package.

Conversely, some lawmakers, such as Lukas Benner from the Green Party, have welcomed these reforms as the most significant tightening of asylum laws since 1993. This contrast in opinions reflects the ongoing tension surrounding asylum policies in Germany, highlighting the balance the government seeks to maintain between controlling immigration and providing opportunities for integration into the labor market.