Bangladesh, May 8 -- In a major shift that signals a stark change in Germanys approach to immigration, the new government under Chancellor Friedrich Merz has ordered an immediate tightening of border controls. As of May 7, undocumented migrants will be turned away at Germanys land borders, fulfilling a central campaign promise that propelled Merzs Christian Democratic Union (CDU) to power.

The announcement marks one of the most decisive and controversial immigration policy changes since the height of Europes 2015–2016 refugee crisis, when then-Chancellor Angela Merkel opened Germanys borders to over a million asylum seekers. Merzs newly appointed Interior Minister, Alexander Dobrindt, wasted no time in formalizing the new approach,...