Polish law enforcement agencies conducted a large-scale nationwide operation to check the legality of foreigners’ stay. An unprecedented number of law enforcement officers were involved in the raids. Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration Marcin Kerwinski reported that more than 700 border guards and nearly 26,500 police officers participated. Employees of the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau for Combating Cybercrime also took part in the preparation of the operation. Over two days, law enforcement officers carried out about two thousand checks throughout the country, focusing on identifying illegal migrants and wanted persons.
The thorough checks resulted in the detention of 140 foreigners. According to the Polish Border Guard, the vast majority of them were in the country illegally. Law enforcement officers also identified more than twenty individuals who posed a direct threat to national security. As a result of the March operation, the competent authorities initiated 130 cases requiring foreigners to leave the country. This nationwide campaign was the fourth such initiative by the joint law enforcement agencies and the first this year.
The actions of Polish law enforcement agencies directly affected Ukrainian citizens. The Ukrainian Embassy in Warsaw confirmed the initiation of administrative proceedings regarding the obligation to return 91 Ukrainians. The diplomatic mission draws attention to the need for a clear understanding of legal terms. The obligation to return is the beginning of a lengthy administrative process, which can take weeks or months to complete. An official decision does not mean immediate deportation, leaving the person with the legal right to appeal and receive qualified legal assistance. The Ukrainian Embassy continues to monitor developments and liaise with the Polish police and border guards to ensure that the rights of Ukrainian citizens are respected.
Read also:
“My boss asks why they are here”: what Germans and Ukrainians say about Merz’s demand to send the men back
