On September 5, 2015, after Angela Merkel uttered the now infamous words “Wir schaffen das” (“We can do it”) on August 31st, Germany’s borders were effectively opened to hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers waiting in Austria and Hungary. With that gesture, celebrated by left-wing media as a show of humanity, one of the most convulsive stages of contemporary Europe began: the era of mass immigration. The official narrative focused on “solidarity” and the promise that these newcomers would sustain the European welfare state. Today, those who once promoted open borders tell us that the system has failed and that massive cuts are needed, ‘discovering’ that the immigrants do not contribute to the sustaining of the welfare system but overwhelm it. Rising crime, urban ghettos, and overstretched social services marked the years that followed. Today, the 10th anniversary of that crisis makes clear how it marked a turning point in the continent’s history.
