Poland suspends migrants' right to apply for asylum

Poland has recently made a significant change regarding the rights of migrants. Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that the country will temporarily suspend the right for migrants arriving from Belarus to apply for asylum. This decision comes after a controversial law was signed by President Andrzej Duda, which allows Polish authorities to halt asylum applications for up to 60 days. Tusk emphasized that this measure would be implemented immediately, citing the need to enhance security at the borders. However, this law has faced criticism from various human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch. They argue that the European Union should take legal action against Poland if this law is enforced. The organization has urged the Polish parliament to reject the bill, stating that it contradicts Poland's international obligations and could effectively close off the border with Belarus, where there have already been reports of unlawful and abusive practices by Polish authorities. The Polish government has stated that the suspension will only apply to individuals who pose a threat to national security, such as 'large groups of aggressive migrants attempting to storm the border. ' There will be exceptions for unaccompanied minors, pregnant women, the elderly, and those who are unwell, as well as individuals who may face serious harm if returned to their home countries, particularly those from nations accused of using migration as a weapon, like Belarus. Prime Minister Tusk has dismissed the concerns raised by human rights advocates, asserting, 'Nobody is talking about violating human rights or the right to asylum; we are discussing not granting applications to individuals who illegally cross the border in organized groups led by Lukashenko. ' Since 2021, there has been a notable increase in the number of people illegally crossing into Poland and other neighboring countries from Belarus and Russia. In response, Polish authorities have deployed thousands of troops and border guards to monitor the border and have constructed a 5. 5-meter-high steel fence along 186 kilometers of the frontier. Reports indicate that more than one hundred individuals have lost their lives at the borders between Belarus and Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia since 2021. Countries on the eastern flank of the EU, along with the European Commission, have accused Belarusian and Russian authorities of weaponizing migration to destabilize the European Union. This situation has raised serious concerns about the treatment of migrants and the implications of such policies on human rights.