The number of foreigners deported from Poland for violating the law has doubled. In the first two months of 2025 alone, over 1,300 people were expelled from the country. The majority were citizens of Georgia and Belarus.
Data obtained from the Main Headquarters of the Border Guard indicate a significant acceleration in the deportation of foreigners breaking the law in Poland.
In just the first two months of this year, over 1,300 individuals were returned to their countries of origin, compared to 700 during the same period last year. Georgians and Belarusians topped the list of those deported, with Moldovans ranking third.
In addition to these nationalities, individuals from Colombia and Ukraine were also forcibly removed from Poland. Last year, Russian nationals were among the top groups as well. The main reason cited for deportation was a threat to “Poland’s security and public order.”
“These are usually repeat offenders convicted of assault, fighting, or bodily harm. There are also many drivers sentenced for driving under the influence and ignoring driving bans,” said Monika Szpunar from the Silesian Branch of the Border Guard, one of the most active units in implementing a “zero tolerance” policy.
This year, for instance, a Ukrainian man was deported after receiving two convictions in four years—for drug possession and theft. Another case involved a Georgian repeat offender sentenced for robbery and theft.
“We need to identify such individuals before they commit crimes in Poland and end up in prison. Convicted foreigners should be sent to serve their sentences in their home countries, so Polish taxpayers don’t have to bear the cost,” said General Adam Rapacki, former Deputy Minister of the Interior.
A particularly noticeable increase has been observed among deported Belarusians, which one Border Guard officer attributes to the uncontrolled issuance of humanitarian visas.
The newspaper reminds readers that the PiS government introduced visa facilitation after Belarus’s rigged 2020 elections and subsequent repression by Alexander Lukashenko. Over four years, 53,000 Belarusians were granted visas. However, last year, the process was scaled back—only about 500 visas were issued.
