Poland’s Border Guard has confirmed that removals of foreign nationals reached an unprecedented 5,640 cases between January and June 2026, a 28 percent jump on the same period of 2025 and already higher than the annual totals recorded just four years ago. According to figures highlighted by the news portal EADaily, deportations peaked in March (1,150) and April (1,130) as enforcement teams stepped-up joint operations with the Ministry of the Interior and Administration. Most expulsions involved irregular entrants apprehended near the borders with Belarus, Lithuania and Germany or foreigners found to be overstaying Schengen short-stay entitlements. The authorities are also using the fast-track administrative procedure introduced in late 2025 that allows the Border Guard to serve return decisions and five- to ten-year Schengen re-entry bans within 48 hours of detention. Business associations report a notable rise in spot-checks at worksites and roadside controls of commercial vehicles, particularly in the logistics and construction sectors that rely heavily on third-country nationals. Officials in Warsaw insist the tougher stance is required to curb organised migrant-smuggling networks operating across the so-called Belarus route and to safeguard public order after several high-profile security incidents. Human-rights NGOs, however, warn that accelerated procedures risk limiting access to legal counsel and appeal rights, potentially deterring skilled foreign workers who are in short supply on the Polish labour market. For global mobility managers, the record numbers underline the importance of strict document compliance when sending employees to Poland. Companies recruiting non-EU talent are being advised to keep copies of valid residence permits on site, conduct regular internal audits of visa expiry dates and budget extra time for border crossings where spot-interviews are now common. Travellers transiting Poland by road may also face ad-hoc identity checks within the 30-kilometre internal-border zone with Germany and Lithuania, even though Schengen rules formally guarantee free movement. Looking ahead, the Ministry of the Interior is drafting amendments to the Foreigners Act that would introduce electronic return-orders and expand biometric checks at regional labour offices. While the aim is to make legitimate immigration channels more efficient, the proposal signals that Poland intends to maintain one of the EU’s most rigorous enforcement regimes for the foreseeable future.
Source: EADaily
