Poland’s Parliament has passed a bill to suspend asylum rights for irregular migrants arriving from Belarus. The bill, approved by the lower house, Sejm, on February 20, 2025, would allow the Polish government to temporarily suspend asylum rights for migrants coming through the Belarusian border.
This new immigration strategy, adopted by the government in October 2024, aims to reduce the number of irregular migrants and strictly control immigration. The strategy includes suspending asylum applications for those considered a direct security threat.
Under the bill, the Polish government could suspend the right to seek asylum for up to 60 days in certain border areas, with the possibility of extending this period indefinitely. However, there are exceptions for unaccompanied minors, pregnant women, and those in need of medical care. Migrants who can prove their lives would be at risk if returned to Belarus will also be allowed to seek asylum.
Human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have criticized the law, arguing that it risks violating international obligations and could lead to illegal and inhumane pushbacks at the Belarusian border.
Poland’s government argues that Belarus and Russia are using migration as a tool to destabilize the EU, describing the situation as a “hybrid attack.” However, Belarus and Russia deny these claims.