Poland’s Border Guard (Straż Graniczna) and the national Police mounted a coordinated, country-wide enforcement campaign on 12-13 October that focused on rooting out irregular migration and overstays. According to an official communiqué released on 15 October, nearly 600 Border Guard officers swept worksites, transport hubs and private addresses, checking the residence status of some 1,400 foreigners. Ukrainian citizens made up the largest single group inspected (about 530 people), followed by Colombians (≈290) and Bangladeshis (≈80). More than 80 individuals were taken into custody; a further 60 administrative proceedings have been opened to issue formal return decisions. In over 50 cases the basis was unlawful stay (e.g., overstaying a visa-free period or holding an expired residence card), while almost 10 cases were linked to national-security concerns, officials said. The Border Guard emphasised that the blitz was part of a rolling series of spot-checks that intensified after Poland reinstated temporary border controls on its frontiers with Germany and Lithuania earlier this month. Businesses that employ foreign staff were reminded that they are obliged to verify the immigration status of every employee and to keep copies of work permits or employer declarations on file. For corporate mobility managers the operation is a signal that compliance monitoring is no longer limited to border crossing points. Companies hosting assignees or short-term business travellers should double-check that passports still carry valid entry stamps or that residence permits have been renewed before travel in the Schengen area. Unannounced workplace inspections are likely to continue, and fines for facilitating illegal stay start at PLN 1,000 per individual, rising sharply for repeat infringements.
