In early September 2026, Germany’s political landscape underwent a major shift regarding internal security and migration policy. The Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI), the Ministry of Justice, and the leadership of the governing coalition, in cooperation with state minister-presidents, presented an inter-agency legislative initiative known as the “Security Package” (Sicherheitspaket), submitted to the Bundestag as a government draft bill (Drucksache 20/12805).
The initiative came as a direct government response to rising terror threats and violent incidents. However, its practical application impacts not only the asylum system, but also the daily lives of millions of foreign nationals legally residing in Germany.
We analyze the core provisions of the new restrictions, what rules are being introduced at the borders, and why Ukrainian refugees holding temporary protection (§ 24 AufenthG) must understand the clear distinction between the classical asylum procedure and their specific legal status.
Core Measures of the “Security Package”: From AsylbLG to Knife Bans
The government legislative package introduces substantial amendments to four federal statutes: the Residence Act (AufenthG), the Asylum Act (AsylG), the Asylum Seekers’ Benefits Act (AsylbLG), and the Weapons Act (Waffengesetz).
Key Federal Legislative Changes:
- Revocation of Social Benefits for “Dublin” Migrants: Asylum seekers whose cases are subject to the Dublin III Regulation to be processed in another EU member state (such as Italy, Greece, or Poland) will lose their entitlement to regular benefits under AsylbLG. Following a two-week transition period, they will receive only emergency non-cash departure assistance based on the principle of “bed, bread, and soap” (Bett, Brot und Seife).
- Loss of Protection Upon Visits to Home Country: Foreign nationals granted humanitarian protection who make unauthorized trips to their country of origin will lose their protection status in Germany. Exceptions are strictly limited to compelling moral grounds (severe illness or funerals of immediate family members) subject to mandatory prior authorization from the Immigration Office (Ausländerbehörde).
- Controls at All Land Borders: The Federal Police (Bundespolizei) has deployed stationary and mobile checkpoints not only on eastern and southern borders (Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland), but also on western frontiers with France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Luxembourg.
- Knife Bans and Expanded Police Powers: Carrying knives is strictly prohibited on long-distance and regional trains, at train stations, fairs, and public gatherings. The maximum permissible blade length for folding pocketknives in public spaces has been reduced to 6 cm (previously 12 cm). Police have been authorized to conduct suspicionless random searches in high-risk zones.
Are Ukrainian Citizens Affected by the Benefit Cuts?
Widespread concern arose among Ukrainians in Germany regarding possible cuts to financial assistance. In this context, the strict legal differentiation of residency statuses is essential:
- Asylum Seekers (Asylbewerber): Individuals who entered through the individual asylum procedure are governed by the AsylbLG. The new restrictions under the Dublin Regulation apply specifically to this category.
- Refugees from Ukraine with Status Under § 24 AufenthG: This group resides in Germany under EU Temporary Protection pursuant to EU Directive 2001/55/EC. They are not asylum seekers and do not go through the asylum process.
Ukrainian citizens with temporary protection receive basic social security for jobseekers (Bürgergeld nach SGB II) or social assistance for reduced earning capacity and retirement age (SGB XII). The Dublin Regulation and benefit cuts under the AsylbLG do not apply to them.
Nonetheless, human rights organizations including PRO ASYL warn that stricter migration rhetoric increases the risk of overly aggressive police checks on the ground, making legal literacy vital for every resident in Germany.
Border and Transit Checks: Mandatory Document Checklist
While the socio-economic status of Ukrainians remains secure, checks on highways, regional trains, and border crossings have become noticeably stricter.
The Federal Police has intensified spot checks on long-distance buses (FlixBus, Sindbad), international express trains (ICE, EC), and vehicular traffic on major autobahns including the A4, A11, A12, and A17 (approaches from Poland and the Czech Republic). When crossing borders or traveling within Germany, law enforcement officers are entitled to inspect any passenger to verify identity.
Checklist of Documents to Keep on Hand:
| Document | Status and Requirements | Potential Risk If Missing |
|---|---|---|
| Biometric Foreign Passport | Original document, currently valid | Detention pending identity verification |
| Electronic Residence Title (eAT) | Valid plastic card under § 24 AufenthG | Treated as unauthorized stay |
| Fictional Certificate (Fiktionsbescheinigung) | Strictly under § 81 Abs. 4 AufenthG (preserves right of residence and travel) | Entry refusal upon return to Germany |
| Registration Certificate (Meldebescheinigung) | Up-to-date proof of official residential registration | Inquiries during address verification checks |
| Health Insurance Card (EGK) | Statutory (GKV) or private health insurance card | Difficulties accessing emergency medical care |
Caution Regarding Knives and Defense Items: Following changes to the Weapons Act, it is strictly forbidden to carry locking pocketknives, pocketknives with blades longer than 6 cm, or pepper sprays without Federal Criminal Police Office approval (BKA / Tierabwehrspray) on trains, in backpacks, or in pockets. Violations carry administrative fines of up to €10,000 or criminal penalties.
Travel to Ukraine: Understanding the Legal Boundaries
One of the most sensitive elements of the security package concerns travel to the country of origin. For conventional asylum status holders, traveling home results in automatic revocation of refugee status, as it negates the presumption of threat to life.
For holders of § 24 AufenthG, distinct regulations apply:
- Short-term travel to Ukraine for family, humanitarian, or documentation purposes remains permitted.
- However, trips lasting more than three consecutive weeks require mandatory advance notification and approval from the Jobcenter (Ortsabwesenheit); otherwise, Bürgergeld disbursements will be suspended for the entire absence.
- Continuous stays outside of Germany exceeding 6 months result in the automatic expiration of the residence permit under Section 51(1) No. 7 of the Residence Act (AufenthG), unless written permission was formally granted by the Ausländerbehörde beforehand.
Practical Recommendations for Nodia.org Readers
- Always Carry Original Identification: When traveling within Germany on regional trains or intercity buses, always carry your passport and eAT card (or valid Fiktionsbescheinigung). Smartphone photos are not accepted by federal police.
- Verify the Legal Clause on Your Fiktionsbescheinigung: If your electronic residence permit is being reissued, verify that your provisional certificate specifies § 81 Abs. 4 (fortbestehende Wirkung), which legally covers border crossings. Certificates issued under § 81 Abs. 3 only authorize stay within Germany.
- Account for Travel Delays: On primary transit routes from Poland and the Czech Republic, mobile border checkpoints can cause traffic delays between 30 and 90 minutes.
- Leave All Knives at Home: Inspect bags, backpacks, and glove compartments to prevent accidental regulatory infractions in station weapon ban zones.
Information Sources
- Deutscher Bundestag: Innenausschuss berät über Sicherheitspaket und Asylsystem (Drucksache 20/12805)
- Deutschlandfunk: Sicherheitspaket nach Solingen – Maßnahmen und politische Debatte
- PRO ASYL: Fachstellungnahme zu Leistungsausschlüssen und verfassungsrechtlichen Vorgaben
- ZDF heute: Debatte über innere Sicherheit, Befugnisse der Polizei und Grenzkontrollen