Poland’s New Migration Strategy: Temporary Suspension of Asylum Rights

In what will be seen as a controversial move aimed at addressing irregular migration, Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk has announced the temporary suspension of asylum rights as part of a broader strategy to curb the influx of migrants entering the country illegally.

The decision, unveiled during a speech at a meeting of his centre-right Civic Coalition political grouping in Warsaw, reflects the Polish government’s growing concerns about the abuse of the asylum system by people smugglers, allegedly backed by Belarus and Russia.

The Context of the Migration Crisis

Since 2021, Poland has experienced a dramatic surge in the number of migrants crossing its borders, primarily from the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Most of these migrants are entering Poland illegally through Belarus, a trend that Polish authorities attribute to a deliberate strategy orchestrated by Minsk and Moscow. Warsaw has accused Belarusian and Russian authorities of engaging in “hybrid warfare” by facilitating the flow of migrants toward Poland and the broader European Union in an attempt to destabilise the bloc.

Belarus and Russia have firmly denied these allegations. However, the increase in illegal crossings, especially along Poland’s eastern border, has placed immense pressure on the country’s migration system, prompting Warsaw to take drastic measures. Many of these migrants do not intend to settle in Poland but aim to travel further into the European Union, with Germany being a primary destination. In response, Berlin has introduced border checks with Poland to stem the flow of irregular migration.

Tusk’s Approach: A Continuation of Tough Policies

Donald Tusk’s announcement of a temporary asylum suspension represents a significant development in Poland’s migration policy. Tusk, a pro-European Union politician, has generally been associated with more liberal views on European integration and human rights. However, his recent stance on migration aligns closely with the tough measures implemented by his predecessors in the right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) government.

The previous PiS administration took a hard-line approach to migration, introducing policies such as pushbacks of migrants and constructing a 5.5-metre-high steel fence along a 186-kilometre (115-mile) stretch of Poland’s border with Belarus.

These measures were aimed at physically preventing the entry of migrants into Polish territory, reflecting a broader trend in Europe, where several nations have taken increasingly restrictive stances on immigration in response to public concern over irregular migration and national security.

Many observers were surprised that Tusk’s Civic Coalition government chose to uphold and expand on these tough policies. While Civic Coalition is typically seen as more centrist and pro-EU, Tusk has positioned himself as a leader willing to make difficult decisions to protect Poland’s borders and ensure national stability.

His emphasis on the involvement of Belarus and Russia in the migrant crisis has further solidified the government’s narrative that the influx of migrants is not just a humanitarian issue but also a matter of national security and geopolitical strategy.

The Role of Belarus and Russia: Allegations of “Hybrid Warfare”

At the heart of Poland’s migration challenge is the claim that Belarus and Russia are using migrants as part of a “hybrid warfare” tactic. This form of warfare involves non-traditional means of conflict, such as using disinformation, cyberattacks, or in this case, mass migration, to weaken or destabilise an opponent.

Poland, as well as other EU member states, has pointed to the sudden spike in migration flows starting in 2021 as evidence of a coordinated effort by Belarus and Russia to create political and social unrest within the European Union. By pushing migrants toward the Polish border, these governments are allegedly seeking to exploit vulnerabilities in the EU’s asylum and border control systems, thereby undermining the unity and security of the bloc.

Balancing Security and Human Rights

While the temporary suspension of asylum rights may help Poland regain control over its borders, it has raised concerns among human rights organizations and EU officials. Critics argue that such measures risk violating international laws on asylum and the protection of refugees.

Poland is a signatory to several international agreements that guarantee the right to seek asylum, and suspending this right could put vulnerable people fleeing conflict and persecution in danger.

On the other hand, supporters of the suspension argue that Poland must prioritize its national security and prevent further abuse of the asylum system by human traffickers and smugglers. They point to the involvement of Belarus and Russia as evidence that Poland’s migration crisis is not a typical humanitarian emergency but a politically motivated act of aggression.

While this move may alleviate some of the pressure on Poland’s borders, it also raises important questions about the balance between national security and the protection of fundamental human rights.

As the situation evolves, it will be critical for Poland, along with its European allies, to find a solution that addresses both the immediate challenges of irregular migration and the long-term need for a fair and humane asylum system.

Main Image: By Gov.pl, CC BY 3.0 pl, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=126816047