In the wake of two deadly knife attacks in Germany, Republican National Committee spokesperson Taylor Rogers weighed in on the country’s decision to implement random border checks with five neighboring nations. The attacks resulted in four fatalities and multiple injuries, prompting a shift in Germany’s approach to border security.
Germany, like many other EU nations, generally allows free movement across borders with limited checks. Rogers likened this system to the U.S. immigration framework.
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Former President Trump has been vocal in criticizing the EU’s stance on immigration, particularly targeting Germany. His criticisms intensified in June 2018, following comments from former Chancellor Angela Merkel concerning Trump’s family-separation policy.
The EU permits temporary border rechecks in response to security concerns, with Germany citing “irregular migration” as a primary driver for its new measures. These checks now extend along borders with Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Denmark, alongside existing protocols at crossings from Poland, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic.
The recent knife attacks underscored these security measures. One incident in June involved an Afghan immigrant, resulting in a police officer’s death. A follow-up attack in August, linked to Islamist extremism, left three dead at a festival in Solingen. The suspect, a Syrian asylum-seeker who had previously evaded deportation, was quickly apprehended. In response, Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced plans for stricter knife laws and increased deportations of rejected asylum-seekers.
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In the U.S., Trump and his GOP associates have often claimed a rise in crime linked to migration. Although the U.S. enforces some of the strictest border controls, illegal crossings surged during the pandemic but have since receded under President Biden’s new measures.
Importantly, while immigrant crime occasionally makes headlines, studies reveal that American citizens statistically commit violent crimes more frequently than immigrants do. Echoing Scholz’s approach, Trump has vowed to enhance deportations if he secures re-election in November.