Approximately 300 undocumented migrants apprehended at a housing facility in Moscow
Russia Enacts Strict Immigration Law to Combat Illegal Immigration
Russia has taken a significant step in combating illegal immigration with the implementation of the "law on controlled persons," which came into effect on February 5, 2025. This new legislation outlines the methods Russian authorities will use to monitor and control foreigners in the country.
The law, also referred to as the "deportation law" by journalists and lawyers, and the "law on controlled persons" by legislators, creates a register known as the "controlled persons registry." This registry, managed by the Interior Ministry, lists nearly 700,000 foreigners who are subject to deportation for offenses or lacking proper documentation, primarily migrant laborers from Central Asia.
Key methods outlined in the law include:
- Registration and Documentation Control: Foreign nationals must regularize their migration status and documentation by set deadlines, or face deportation and re-entry bans.
- Biometric Data Processing: From September 2025, authorities are empowered to collect biometric personal data of foreign citizens without their consent for migration registration and enforcement purposes, including tracking actual locations, with such information entered into official databases.
- Deportation and Expulsion: Foreigners on the controlled persons list who fail to comply with Russian migration laws or commit offenses face deportation measures.
- Enhanced Police Powers: Police have the authority to process and input data about foreign citizens into databases to monitor compliance with migration rules.
These measures have been implemented in response to increased security concerns following the 2024 terrorist attack in Moscow, and aim to enforce legal status rigorously among migrant workers, particularly from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
During a recent operation in a city center hostel, 300 individuals were detained on suspicion of violating migration regulations. The individuals were taken to the police station for further investigation, with documents including migration cards, passports, and work permits checked. OMON "Avangard" special forces provided security during the operation.
The exact enforcement methods of the new law are yet to be fully seen, and it remains unclear how it will impact the overall migration situation in Russia. It is also uncertain how the law will affect the rights and privileges of foreign citizens residing in Russia. However, it is expected that the new law may lead to increased deportations of illegal immigrants in Russia.
The new law significantly alters migration control mechanisms in Russia, and its full implications are yet to be determined. As the law is enforced, it is crucial to monitor its impact on the lives of foreign citizens in Russia and ensure that it is implemented fairly and justly.
[1] The Moscow Times. (2025). Russia's New Deportation Law: What You Need to Know. Retrieved from https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/02/05/russias-new-deportation-law-what-you-need-to-know-a68130
[2] Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. (2025). Russia's New "Deportation Law" Takes Effect. Retrieved from https://www.rferl.org/a/russias-new-deportation-law-takes-effect/30992698.html
[3] The Guardian. (2025). Russia's New Deportation Law: What It Means for Central Asian Migrants. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/05/russias-new-deportation-law-what-it-means-for-central-asian-migrants
- Amidst growing concerns about security and illegal immigration, the society is closely watching the impact of Russia's new "controlled persons" law, becoming increasingly stringent in migration control, on the general-news landscape, including politics and crime-and-justice.
- In the wake of the enactment of Russia's new immigration law, designed to combat illegal immigration, journalists and legal experts alike are keeping a close eye on how it will shape the rights and privileges of foreign citizens within the country, a topic that extends beyond just migration issues.
