This controversial law, supported by President Duda, has drawn significant criticism from human rights organizations and raises concerns about Poland's international obligations.
Poland Imposes Asylum Application Suspension for Migrants at Belarusian Border
Poland Imposes Asylum Application Suspension for Migrants at Belarusian Border
Prime Minister Tusk's recent decision comes in response to escalating border tensions and security concerns.
Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that the government will temporarily suspend the right for migrants arriving through Belarus to apply for asylum. This decision follows the enactment of a contentious law, signed by President Andrzej Duda, which permits authorities to halt asylum applications for up to 60 days. Tusk emphasized the law's immediate adoption as a necessary security measure, while Duda described it as vital for fortifying the nation’s borders. However, the legislation has faced backlash from rights groups such as Human Rights Watch, which called on the EU to consider legal action against Poland if the law is enacted. The organization previously urged the Polish parliament to reject the bill, arguing it undermines Poland's obligations under international law and could lead to a complete sealing off of the Poland-Belarus border. This area has already seen reported instances of unlawful and abusive pushbacks by Polish authorities.
The Polish government clarified that the suspension would only apply temporarily and specifically to individuals deemed a threat to state security, notably large groups of aggressive migrants attempting to breach the border. Important exceptions will be made for vulnerable populations, including unaccompanied minors, pregnant women, the elderly, and anyone facing a serious risk of harm upon return, particularly those from countries accused of leveraging migration as a geopolitical tool, such as Belarus. In response to criticism from human rights advocates, Tusk asserted, “Nobody is talking about violating human rights; we are discussing the rejection of asylum applications for individuals who illegally cross the border in organized groups.”
Since 2021, countries like Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Finland have experienced a marked surge in illegal crossings from Belarus and Russia. In response, Poland has deployed thousands of troops and border guards to monitor the frontier and erected a 5.5-meter-high steel fence along a 186-kilometer stretch of its border, where many migrants have found themselves stranded. Estimates from rights organizations indicate that over a hundred individuals have lost their lives at the borders between Belarus and its neighboring countries since the onset of this migration crisis. The European Commission and nations along the eastern flank of the EU accuse Belarusian and Russian authorities of using migration as a weapon to destabilize the European Union.
The Polish government clarified that the suspension would only apply temporarily and specifically to individuals deemed a threat to state security, notably large groups of aggressive migrants attempting to breach the border. Important exceptions will be made for vulnerable populations, including unaccompanied minors, pregnant women, the elderly, and anyone facing a serious risk of harm upon return, particularly those from countries accused of leveraging migration as a geopolitical tool, such as Belarus. In response to criticism from human rights advocates, Tusk asserted, “Nobody is talking about violating human rights; we are discussing the rejection of asylum applications for individuals who illegally cross the border in organized groups.”
Since 2021, countries like Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Finland have experienced a marked surge in illegal crossings from Belarus and Russia. In response, Poland has deployed thousands of troops and border guards to monitor the frontier and erected a 5.5-meter-high steel fence along a 186-kilometer stretch of its border, where many migrants have found themselves stranded. Estimates from rights organizations indicate that over a hundred individuals have lost their lives at the borders between Belarus and its neighboring countries since the onset of this migration crisis. The European Commission and nations along the eastern flank of the EU accuse Belarusian and Russian authorities of using migration as a weapon to destabilize the European Union.
