Poland Enacts Temporary Suspension of Asylum Rights for Migrants

Poland is temporarily suspending migrants' right to seek asylum at its border with Belarus for up to 60 days, invoking security concerns amid rising migration numbers.

Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk recently confirmed a significant policy shift regarding asylum rights for migrants arriving through its border with Belarus. Following the signing of a controversial bill by President Andrzej Duda, Tusk stated that the government's newly enacted law would empower authorities to suspend asylum applications for up to 60 days. This decision arises as Polish leadership grapples with escalating numbers of migrant crossings, which they associate with organized attempts to breach the border.

In defense of the legislation, Tusk asserted its necessity in bolstering national security and better managing migration challenges posed by organized groups, particularly those purportedly orchestrated by the Belarusian regime. However, this initiative has drawn sharp criticism from organizations such as Human Rights Watch, which contends that it contradicts Poland’s obligations under international and EU law. They have warned that the implementation of such measures could effectively close off the Poland-Belarus border entirely, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region.

Under the new law, exceptions will be made for vulnerable populations, including unaccompanied minors, pregnant women, the elderly, and those facing genuine harm if returned. Tusk, while addressing critics, emphasized that the focus should be on individuals illegally entering the country, rather than infringing on the asylum rights afforded to genuine refugees.

Since 2021, nations along the EU's eastern border, including Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia, have reported significant increases in illegal crossings, sparking fears that Belarus and Russia are leveraging migration as a tactic to destabilize the EU. Polish authorities have reacted by deploying thousands of troops and border guards to enforce security, alongside constructing extensive physical barriers. Amid this crisis, human rights advocates estimate that more than one hundred individuals have lost their lives attempting to cross into Poland and neighboring countries since the surge began.