Poland’s Border Guard has carried out another high-profile removal operation, returning three Ukrainian nationals and one Moldovan national to their countries of origin on 25 September. The individuals, aged 21-31, had accumulated criminal records ranging from organised theft and drug offences to repeat drunk-driving. All four received multi-year bans on re-entering Poland and the wider Schengen Area, the longest stretching to eight years. According to the Maritime Border Guard, two of the men were arrested during spot residency inspections in Kołobrzeg and Gdańsk after failing to leave Poland when previously ordered. One suspect had ignored a June return order and was later charged under Poland’s Anti-Narcotics Act; another was linked to an organised gang targeting retail outlets on the Baltic coast. The swift removals illustrate Warsaw’s tougher stance on what the government labels “high-risk migration”. Since January, Poland has issued 37 % fewer work visas and expanded the list of offences that trigger mandatory expulsion. Employers who continue to hire foreigners without valid permits now face fines of up to PLN 25,000 per worker. For global mobility teams, the case underlines the importance of ongoing compliance audits—especially for Ukrainian assignees who entered under the special temporary-protection regime. HR departments are advised to track staff criminal checks and ensure that any residence-permit renewals are filed at least 45 days before expiry, as overdue applicants risk on-the-spot detention. Industry analysts say the policy may deter some skilled workers, but Polish officials argue that “selective openness” is needed to sustain public support for legal migration. A draft amendment to the Act on Foreigners, now before the Sejm, would codify accelerated deportation procedures for non-EU nationals convicted of violent crimes.
Source: Straż Graniczna – Komenda Główna
