Germany launches border checks to reduce crime, criticized for 'risking chaos'

Germany will begin border checks on Monday to strengthen its national security. The goal is to crack down on illegal immigration following the aftermath of the recent terrorist attacks committed by asylum seekers in Munich and Soligen. Government officials indicated the enhanced procedures will remain in place for at least the next six months, as reported by The Times.

The crisis measures were introduced by Nancy Faeser, the German interior minister, who hopes the effort will prevent "Islamic terror."

"We are strengthening our security through concrete action and we are continuing our tough stance against irregular migration," Fraser said during a press brief. "Until we achieve strong protection of the EU's external borders, we must control our national borders even more closely. These controls also enable effective rejections. This serves to further limit illegal migration [and] to protect against the acute dangers of Islamic terror."

Faeser, a member of the Social Democratic Party, maintained that her proposals included a "model for effective rejections that comply with European law" after the Austrian government reacted with outrage.

Austrian interior minister, Gerhard Karner, cautioned that the return of illegal migrants or "push-backs" would not be tolerated in the absence of negotiations and an agreement with neighbors regarding formal procedures.

"There's no room for maneuver there," Karner told the Bild newspaper. "It's the law. I have directed the head of the federal police to not allow any returns. Austria will therefore not accept any persons rejected from Germany."

In the event of a crisis, Germany has informed the European Commission of its preparations, which are in accordance with regulations that permit temporary border checks within the Schengen zone of the EU, which is passport-free.

Germany told Belgium, as per The Times, that its measures were justified because of the "persistently high overall burden on Germany" and "protection of internal security against the current threats of Islamist terrorism and cross-border crime."

The measures were implemented in response to a terrorist knife attack in Solingen in August, which resulted in the deaths of three individuals. The perpetrator of the attack was an asylum seeker who was supposed to be deported.

Another assailant was shot and killed by Munich police last week after he had traveled from Austria to attack the Israeli consulate on the anniversary of the 1972 Munich Olympics attack, which resulted in the deaths of 11 Israeli athletes.