German Chancellor Merz to U.S.: "Do Not Interfere in Immigration Policy"

Backlash as U.S. Attempts to Intervene Using Overseas Diplomatic Missions

The German government has publicly expressed its dissatisfaction, urging the United States not to interfere in its immigration policy.

Friedrich Merz, German Chancellor. Photo by EPA Yonhap News

The German government has pushed back after the Donald Trump administration signaled its intention to use overseas diplomatic missions to become involved in other countries' immigration policies.

At a press conference on the 27th (local time), German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated, "Immigration policy is our issue, and we will decide as we see fit," adding, "We do not need outside lectures."

Since taking office in May, Chancellor Merz has pursued a hardline stance on immigration, asserting, "Germany has been on the right path since the change of government." He also mentioned that a new asylum and immigration policy is being developed at the European level, emphasizing that Europe will make its own decisions on this matter as well.

The U.S. State Department recently sent a diplomatic cable to embassies in Europe, as well as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, instructing them to "regularly engage with host governments and relevant authorities to raise U.S. concerns regarding crimes involving individuals with an immigration background."

The cable included directives that could be seen as interference in domestic affairs, such as recommending that countries "implement policies to protect their citizens from the negative social impacts of large-scale immigration."

Since the mid-2010s, when refugees surged due to the Syrian civil war, Germany has led Europe's inclusive refugee policy. However, despite opposition from neighboring countries, the Merz administration has adopted a tougher approach, turning back illegal immigrants at the border and reducing support for Ukrainian refugees.

There is analysis, however, that strict immigration policies have only strengthened support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which advocates for mass deportations of immigrants. Germany's established political circles, which do not consider far-right parties as legitimate political dialogue partners, have been wary of close ties between the Trump administration and the AfD. In the general election last February, after pro-Trump figures such as Elon Musk publicly supported the AfD, Chancellor Merz warned against interference in German politics, stating, "I did not interfere in the U.S. election."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.