This article analyses the development of the debate on migration policies in Germany in the context of the federal elections in early 2025 which saw substantial electoral gains obtained by the far-right AfD. The text starts by looking at the then government’s decision to reintroduce inner-European border controls – which contravenes EU regulations – and the increasing policing of the migrant population and contrasts this with ongoing debates by capitalist stakeholders on an ever-increasing need of an influx of new migrant workers. The analysis of political statements of employer’s organisations shows that rather than being an obstacle to racism the need for new intakes into the labour force reconfigures the former in terms of “usefulness”.