Poland's Asylum Policy Shift at the Belarus Border Shows Significant Results

Warsaw - Poland's stringent measures at the border with Belarus have led to a remarkable decline in illegal border crossings and asylum applications. Following the suspension of asylum rights, the number of attempts to cross the border has halved. Even more striking is the near 97 percent drop in asylum requests, as reported by local media.

At the end of March, the government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk implemented a suspension of the right to asylum at this border, a decision that has recently been extended for an additional 60 days. This action was taken in response to what officials describe as a deliberate strategy by Belarus to manipulate migration flows to exert pressure on Poland. Tusk characterized the situation as an 'aggression' against Poland.

Poland has become the second EU country, after Finland, to suspend asylum rights at a border. This measure seems to have deterred many potential migrants, with only 23 new asylum applications filed since the suspension began, a stark contrast to nearly 800 requests during the same period the previous year.

According to Colonel Andrzej Juzwiak from the Polish Border Guard, there were about 6,100 attempts to cross the border illegally, down from 11,700 the year before. Factors contributing to this decline include the border policy changes, the establishment of a security zone, enhanced surveillance, and the relaxation of firearms regulations for border officials.

While the situation at the Belarus border appears to be stabilizing, concerns are rising regarding the Polish-Lithuanian border. In the sparsely populated Suwalki Corridor, which lies between Lithuania and Poland, authorities discovered 28 refugees from Africa hidden in vehicles in May. The human traffickers involved, including individuals from Latvia and Ukraine, were apprehended, and the migrants were subsequently sent back to Lithuania. Currently, there are no official border controls in this region, with only roadside checks being conducted.

Those attempting to cross through the Suwalki Corridor often first enter the EU through the borders with Belarus and Lithuania or Latvia before being smuggled into Poland. The ultimate destination for many illegal immigrants is Germany, according to the Polish Border Guard. The agency has issued warnings about the emergence of a new, difficult-to-monitor migration route in northeastern Europe.