Poland Introduces New Restrictions for Migrants: Details

Starting March 27, Poland will temporarily restrict the possibility of seeking asylum after crossing the border with Belarus. This was announced by the head of the Polish Ministry of Internal Affairs, Tomasz Semonyak.

“The regulation provides border guards with one of the key tools to combat illegal migration, which is a component of hybrid aggression against Poland, and to fight against international crime,” Semonyak noted.

On the day prior, Polish President Andrzej Duda signed a controversial bill from the perspective of human rights defenders that allows authorities to suspend international protection for migrants for 60 days. “I have signed this law and believe that it is necessary to strengthen the security of our borders and enhance the security of Poles,” Duda stated.

Authorities in Poland can grant so-called “international protection” to a foreigner if they are at risk of persecution in their home country that poses an actual threat to their life or health. At the same time, the applicant for protection must not pose a threat to Poland's security.

According to Polish authorities, from January to September 2024, 12,300 foreigners sought asylum in Poland. It is worth mentioning that since spring 2021, a migration crisis has emerged at the Polish-Belarusian border. Thousands of refugees, mainly from the Middle East and Africa, are attempting to reach the EU through Belarus.

The EU has accused Lukashenko of creating a migration crisis. According to Brussels, the Belarusian leader is seeking revenge against the West for the sanctions imposed following the suppression of protests against electoral fraud in the 2020 presidential elections.

According to Polish border guards, on March 26 alone, there were nearly 180 attempts at illegal entry recorded at the border, of which almost all were halted.