Poland Suspends Asylum Applications at Belarus Border, Sparking International Concern
Poland has implemented a controversial new law temporarily suspending the right of migrants to apply for asylum when entering the country through its Belarus border. Prime Minister Donald Tusk and President Andrzej Duda assert the measure is necessary for national security, though human rights organizations have strongly criticized the decision. The legislation allows Polish authorities to suspend asylum applications for up to 60 days at a time. The government maintains that the suspension will only apply to groups perceived as potential security threats, with specific exemptions for vulnerable populations including unaccompanied minors, pregnant women, the elderly, and individuals at risk of serious harm. Since 2021, Poland, along with Lithuania, Latvia, and Finland, has experienced a significant increase in illegal border crossings from Belarus and Russia. In response, Poland has deployed thousands of troops and border guards and constructed a 5.5-meter-high […]
