The State Border Guard continues to regularly record attempts to damage border infrastructure, stated the head of the border guard, Guntis Pujaats, at a meeting of the parliamentary commission investigating immigration regulation issues.
The most tense year regarding illegal border crossings was 2023, when the highest number of detentions of illegal migrant traffickers was recorded, said Pujaats. He added that the challenges continue, as does the work to detain violators.
The head of the border guard emphasized that the goal of the violators is to reach Latvia unnoticed, to then proceed, for example, to Germany.
If the border were not controlled, significantly more people would arrive illegally in Latvia than currently, noted Pujaats. He added that Belarus had previously concluded visa-free agreements with many countries and was working on logistical routes to direct illegal migrants to European countries.
About 90% of illegal migrants are men aged 25 to 35. Many arrive, for example, from Somalia. Pujaats noted that violators often succumb to the temptation to obtain European "protection" to reach their "dream country" and sell all their belongings in advance.
State Police representative Arturs Smilga reported at the commission meeting that law enforcement provides support when necessary. This support may include, for example, assistance in patrolling. Smilga also positively noted the involvement of the National Armed Forces in ensuring border security.
Speaking about the fight against illegal migration, Smilga explained that the State Police conducts checks on individuals, including in various institutions. He emphasized that for most illegal migrants, Latvia is not a final destination but serves as a transit country on the way to other European states.
After the open part of the commission meeting, the deputies continued to question invited representatives of institutions in a closed session.
As reported, on November 27 of last year, the Saeima established a parliamentary investigative commission to identify problems in immigration regulation at the national and European levels and the work of executive bodies.
The commission was created at the proposal of 34 Saeima deputies with the aim of studying a number of issues: how applications for immigration are assessed and what measures are taken to prevent illegal immigration, what problems exist in legal regulation for asylum seekers, how many people disappear from the sight of state authorities after obtaining residence permits, what risks are associated with short-term residence permits and their potential abuse, as well as whether Latvia has the opportunity to apply exceptions to the norms of EU migration law.
