Border Patrol Ambitions Persist for Poland's Civil Guard Towards Germany
## Border Tensions in Poland: Right-Wing Citizens' Militias and Government Response
In a bid to address immigration concerns, right-wing citizens' militias have taken matters into their own hands, organising patrols along Poland's borders, particularly with Germany. This move is part of a broader political landscape where immigration has become a contentious issue.
### Origins of the Patrols
The emergence of these patrols is a recent development, driven by domestic political tensions and the return of migrants from Germany. Right-wing groups, such as the "Movement for the Defense of Borders," led by Robert Bakiewicz, have been mobilising support for these patrols, which are often linked to nationalist and anti-immigration sentiments [1][4].
### Aims and Activities
**Primary Aims:** - **Preventing Migrant Returns:** The primary objective is to prevent the return of non-EU migrants who had previously entered Germany but are now being returned to Poland [5]. - **Enforcing Border Control:** These patrols aim to unilaterally enforce border controls, often stopping vehicles and checking documents [1][4]. - **Political Pressure:** By highlighting immigration issues, these groups seek to pressure the government to adopt stricter immigration policies and to capitalise on anti-German sentiments within Poland [1].
### Government's Response
**Official Border Controls:** In response to these developments and broader political pressures, the Polish government has reintroduced border checks with Germany and Lithuania. These checks, initially set for 30 days, involve continuous monitoring at key crossings, supported by military personnel [2][3].
**Legal Stance:** The Polish government views these citizen patrols as unauthorised and has warned that actions such as usurpation of office and insulting officials will be punished [1].
**Political Context:** The government's decision to reintroduce border controls has been influenced by political debates and criticism from opposition parties, which portray the immigration situation as a crisis. However, Prime Minister Donald Tusk has maintained that claims of an immigration crisis are exaggerated [2][3].
The right-wing opposition party PiS and its supported future president, Karol Nawrocki, have praised these self-appointed patrols, adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing border tensions in Poland.
The right-wing opposition party PiS, supported by the future president, Karol Nawrocki, advocates for the actions of self-appointed patrols along Poland's border, aligning themselves with the general sentiment of the "Movement for the Defense of Borders." This stance raises concerns about whether these groups will influence community policy regarding vocational training or crime-and-justice issues, given their involvement in war-and-conflicts and politics. Meanwhile, general news outlets have been following the development of these patrols, linking them to nationalist and anti-immigration sentiments.
