Finnish Government’s Crackdown on Illegal Immigration: Balancing Security with International Law

Ursula von der Leyen, the chairman of the European Commission, is visiting Finland to discuss ways in which Finland combats illegal immigration and issues related to Eastern Finland’s vitality with Prime Minister Petteri Orpo. Since the beginning of August, over 1,300 third-country nationals without visas have arrived in Finland from Russia, with suspicions that their entry was influenced by foreign authorities or other actors. The Finnish government has started closing border crossings and has decided to keep the land border crossings with Russia closed “for the time being.” They are also working on a new law that would allow immigrants entering through the eastern border to be returned without being admitted to the asylum process.

However, this draft law has faced criticism from constitutional law experts, the Border Guard, and others who argue that it violates the constitution, international obligations, and EU law. The discussions in Lappeenranta will be crucial in addressing these challenges effectively. The Finnish government must find a balance between protecting its citizens and respecting international laws while ensuring that its borders remain secure.