BERLIN: Asylum applications in Germany fell by almost 60 percent in August compared with the same month last year as the government pursued a crackdown on migration, interior ministry figures showed on Tuesday.
A total of 7,803 people applied for asylum for the first time in August, compared with 18,427 last year, the ministry said, confirming figures first published by the Bild daily.
The drop comes as Germany pursues various measures to curb migration under Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who took office in May.
Under Merz, Germany has imposed strict border controls and deported criminals to Afghanistan.
The government has restricted family reunifications for some migrants and plans to toughen the rules for obtaining German citizenship.
