The Security Police warned of security and resource risks in connection with the proposals being considered in the Saeima to introduce a new basis for obtaining temporary residence permits for foreigners purchasing real estate in Latvia valued at no less than 250,000 euros, reports LETA.
In its opinion for the Saeima Defense, Internal Affairs, and Corruption Prevention Commission, the Security Police indicated that the introduction of such regulation in the immigration law is a political decision; however, the verification of such individuals would be complex and would require significant resources from government institutions.
The Service emphasizes that it is not always possible to obtain full confidence in the origin of the funds used to acquire real estate. Furthermore, in the opinion of the Security Police, the volume of available information about such foreigners may be limited, complicating the qualitative assessment of the associated risks.
The Security Police reported that it participated in the commission meeting on April 28, where the immigration bill and proposed amendments were discussed before the third reading; however, it will not be able to participate in the meeting on April 29.
The proposed amendments provide for the addition of a new point to the first part of Article 26 of the immigration law, which would grant the right to request a temporary residence permit for up to five years if a foreigner owns real estate of a specified value.
As previously reported, the Saeima supported the amendments to the immigration law in the second reading, which provide for the possibility of revoking temporary residence permits for foreigners who have committed three administrative offenses in the field of public order or traffic within a year.
The author of the bill noted that the goal is to strengthen public safety, emphasizing that living in Latvia is a privilege available only to those who obey the laws. The proposal was supported by both coalition and opposition deputies.
The amendments concern various offenses, including aggressive behavior, the use of totalitarian symbols, sexual harassment, and traffic violations. Deputies emphasize that this is a step towards stricter immigration control.
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