BERLIN, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- Nearly 13,800 people lacking proper documentation were denied entry or turned back at Germany's borders since the expansion of temporary border controls in mid-September last year, the country's federal police reported on Monday.

Over the past 140 days, authorities detected 22,243 unauthorized entries across all land borders, arresting 518 suspected smugglers and identifying 396 people with alleged ties to extremist groups.

The intensified measures were reinstated on September 16, 2024, at Germany's borders with France, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Denmark. Similar checks had already been in place with Austria, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland.

Officials justified the stricter border controls by citing rising concerns over irregular migration and security threats following a series of deadly attacks.

Critics argue that these measures undermine the principle of free movement within the European Union, dealing a significant blow to the border-free Schengen area. Enditem

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