Austria closes the borders:
Austria has announced tough new plans to reject almost all asylum-seekers at its borders as it continues a crackdown against migrants.
Under the new measures, all asylum claims will be decided within an hour at the country’s borders. Only migrants who have an immediate relative already granted asylum in Austria will be allowed to enter.
Applicants who are at risk of death or inhumane treatment if they are not granted asylum will also be allowed in. But in practice almost no one will be able to claim asylum on the grounds of physical danger as they will be judged to be safe in the neighbouring European countries they have travelled through.
All migrants whose claims are rejected will be turned back at the border.
That’s a good first step. Soon it will be time to proceed to step two, mass repatriations. To Germany, if necessary. Or to whatever nation protests.