Bavaria’s Border Crisis: 1,800 Illegal Crossings and Rising Forgeries in 2023

A crackdown at key checkpoints like Hörbranz reveals a troubling trend. Nearly 60% of those caught were sent back—but the numbers keep climbing.

, and Administrator

2026 January 16 . 5:13 PM

1 min read

The image shows an old map of Germany with a black border and text written on it. The map is... — The image shows an old map of Germany with a black border and text written on it. The map is detailed and shows the various roads and highways that make up the country.

Bavaria’s Border Crisis: 1,800 Illegal Crossings and Rising Forgeries in 2023

Bavarian police in Kempten recorded over 1,800 illegal border crossings last year. Nearly 60 percent of those caught were either turned back or returned. The majority came from Syria, Afghanistan and Turkey.

The Hörbranz crossing on the A96 motorway saw almost half of all illegal entries. Officers also detected 177 cases of forged or manipulated documents, marking a rise in such offences. Another 94 individuals were detained pending deportation.

Checks on long-distance buses accounted for nearly half of all apprehensions. In October alone, 225 people were found without proper entry papers. The inspectorate also identified 105 smugglers, most of them from the same three countries.

During the year, police registered 1,290 hits on wanted individuals. Detailed breakdowns by nationality, however, remain unpublished by federal authorities.

The figures highlight ongoing challenges at the border. Forged documents and smuggling operations continue to play a significant role in illegal entries. Police operations remain focused on buses and key crossing points like Hörbranz.