Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has unveiled a contentious plan to temporarily suspend the right to asylum as part of a broader strategy to tackle irregular migration into Poland. The proposal comes amid escalating concerns regarding the influence of people smugglers, allegedly supported by Belarus and Russia, who Tusk claims are exploiting asylum laws to destabilize the European Union from within.
In a speech delivered during a gathering of his Civic Coalition party in Warsaw, Tusk emphasized the need for immediate action against the rising tide of illegal crossings, particularly from the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, which have surged since 2021. He accused Belarus and Russia of engaging in “hybrid warfare” by directing migrants towards the EU, although both nations have denied these allegations.
The migration crisis peaked in August 2021, when unauthorized attempts to cross into Poland surged to eight times the number recorded in the entire previous year. Despite efforts to strengthen border security, including a five-meter-high steel fence along the Polish-Belarusian border, the number of individuals attempting to enter remains significant, with many seeking to move on to Germany.
Tusk is set to present the new migration policy during a government meeting on October 15, pushing for recognition of Poland’s decision to temporarily suspend asylum rights in Europe. He argued that this measure is essential for reclaiming full control over Poland’s borders, highlighting the misuse of asylum claims by migrants, traffickers, and foreign states.
While facing criticism, Tusk’s pro-European coalition continues to adopt stringent measures similar to the previous government, which had established policies for pushbacks of migrants. Recent political dialogue suggests strong public support for a tough stance on migration, with opinion polls reflecting majority backing for the use of self-defense measures by security forces.
However, human rights organizations have raised alarms over these policies, noting a documented toll of over 130 migrant deaths along the borders of Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia since the onset of the crisis. Activists are calling for a more humanitarian approach, urging the government to engage in constructive dialogue rather than resorting to reactionary policies that may exacerbate the existing humanitarian emergency at the borders.
