Polish Citizen Militias Continue Border Patrols Amid Official Checks

Poland's citizen militias are set to persist with their border patrols along the frontier with Germany, even as the Polish government initiates stationary checks at border crossings. Despite withdrawing from major border points, these groups are conducting mobile patrols in border regions to monitor the activities of the Polish Border Guard, as stated by a representative of the newly formed 'Movement for Border Defense'.

Robert Bakiewicz, a prominent figure associated with the movement, expressed concerns over the effectiveness of the official border controls, questioning whether they are genuine measures or merely a public relations strategy by the government. His organization has been recruiting volunteers to assist in halting vehicles to search for migrants.

This development has elicited mixed reactions within Poland. The ruling government views these militias unfavorably, with Interior Minister Tomasz Simoniak asserting that any unauthorized exercises of authority would face strict repercussions. Conversely, the right-wing opposition party, Law and Justice (PiS), has praised the independent patrols, accusing the pro-European government of Donald Tusk of inadequately managing migration and being overly compliant with Germany regarding migrant acceptance.

On the morning of July 7, 2025, Poland's Border Guard commenced temporary checks at 52 border crossings with Germany, claiming the inspections are aimed at curbing illegal migrant smuggling. Simoniak reassured travelers that those not involved in smuggling should not be concerned.

Following the implementation of these checks, Simoniak reported that operations have proceeded smoothly, with traffic flowing without significant interruptions. However, criticism of these border controls has emerged from various quarters, including EU officials. Katarina Barley, the Vice-President of the European Parliament, labeled Poland's decision to reinstate border checks as a retaliatory move against Germany's own stricter control measures, warning that this could jeopardize the Schengen Area's integrity.

Barley highlighted the potential for a domino effect stemming from the tightening of border regulations, arguing that there are alternative methods for managing migration issues, such as undercover operations, rather than imposing strict border checks. She noted that recent statistics indicated a decrease in asylum applications in Germany without the need for such stringent controls.

The German government's representative for Polish affairs, Knut Abraham, characterized the new border controls as a significant burden for the border region, emphasizing that many local industries depend on unfettered cross-border traffic. He urged both governments to minimize disruptions caused by the new measures, suggesting the establishment of additional control lanes and joint checkpoints to alleviate congestion.

Abraham further cautioned that a heightened focus on border checks would not resolve the underlying migration challenges, warning that if Poland were to adopt a single-lane processing system, this could lead to severe traffic jams.

The Green Party in Germany has urged the government to retract the border checks imposed on Poland. Party leader Felix Banaszak acknowledged that the Polish government's response was somewhat understandable given Germany's actions but criticized Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt for creating a 'national solo effort' in migration policy that has resulted in a chain reaction of border restrictions.

Banaszak called for the German officials to take the initiative to lift their border controls to break the cycle of escalating tensions and restore a cohesive European approach to migration.

Despite the implementation of these border checks, the German retail sector remains optimistic, with the head of the German Retail Association (HDE) stating that the new measures would not lead to empty store shelves. He acknowledged, however, that many workers commute from Poland, emphasizing the need for a seamless internal market.