Merz's controversial quote: Migration and the new cityscape in Böblingen

Merz's controversial quote: Migration and the new cityscape in Böblingen

In recent days, a statement from Chancellor Friedrich Merz has made political waves. During an appointment in Brandenburg on October 17, 2025, he spoke about migration and described it as a “problem in the cityscape”. This formulation caused numerous critical voices to criticize the Chancellor for a derogatory and dehumanizing portrayal of people in Germany who live without the right to asylum. The debate, which is gaining momentum especially in the Böblingen district, shows how controversial the topics of migration and security are discussed in society. According to Stuttgarter Nachrichten the migration proportion in Böblingen is almost 50% and has increased significantly in the last ten years increased.

Representative figures and personal perceptions come into play, especially when discussing the population's sense of security. For many people, the feeling of insecurity in the area, such as around the train station, is reinforced by police statistics showing higher levels of crime among the foreign population compared to the domestic population. Although the police have emphasized that there is no general insecurity, conservative politicians such as CSU leader Markus Söder and Union parliamentary group leader Jens Spahn are calling for more rigorous action, including video surveillance, to counteract the feeling of threat. But as Tagesschau reports, critics fear that such measures will promote right-wing populism and only exacerbate the problems in the social debate.

The role of the media and public perception

In the current discussion about migration and crime, a connection between the two topics is often emphasized. However, studies by the ifo Institute show that there is no significant increase in crime caused by migrants. These only make up around 2% of the total population and are, however, overrepresented in certain crimes. Explanations for this can be found in demographic factors, such as the higher proportion of young men among migrants. Criminologist Nicole Bögelein from the University of Cologne points out that structural disadvantage and social inequality are more far-reaching than origin and that public communication often influences perception more strongly than sober numbers, according to reports from DINstitut.

In the context of Merz's statements, it remains questionable how a balanced debate about integration and security can be conducted. While the federal government emphasizes that migration is not a driver of crime and is committed to promoting integration, a large part of the population wants concerns about security to be taken seriously. Recent developments show that there is a need to find a healthy balance between security and the inclusion of migrants - a challenge that affects not only politics, but society as a whole.

In view of this sensationalized debate about migration and crime, it is to be hoped that a more sober approach to the issue will be possible in the future and that the human aspects of migration will be addressed. Voices from politics and science are calling for an integrative approach that both improves living conditions and takes public safety seriously - because this is the only way to ensure long-lasting social cohesion.