Unlawful immigrants in Riga's capital are ordered to vacate the city and depart from Latvia within a month, as dictated by the vice mayor.
Riga, the capital city of Latvia, is taking decisive action to address the recent increase in illegal immigration, with a particular focus on arrivals from African countries.
According to reports, the majority of the 22 illegal migrants detained in Riga this year hail from Sudan and Ethiopia, marking a shift from previous years when Central Asian nations were the primary source of unauthorized immigration.
In response, the Riga Municipal Police have announced plans for extensive raids to detect and apprehend illegal migrants by the end of September. These efforts are part of a broader national strategy aimed at strengthening entry and border control measures, effective from September 1, 2025.
Under the amended Immigration Law of April 2025, all third-country nationals who do not hold a Latvian visa or residence permit are required to submit an electronic entry form via eta.gov.lv at least 48 hours before arrival. This form collects detailed personal information, travel purpose, contact data, and links to political, military, or government activities to enhance national security and control over foreign nationals' movements.
Juris Lukass, Municipal Police Chief, confirmed that when an illegal migrant is detected, they are handed over to the State Police or Border Guard. Despite these efforts, the number of detained illegal immigrants in Riga has decreased since last year.
Riga Vice Mayor Edvards Ratnieks, of the National Alliance, which made migration a key issue in its municipal election campaign this year, is urging illegal immigrants to leave Riga and Latvia within a month. Ratnieks cited the deteriorating criminogenic situation in countries like Sweden and France as a reason for his urging, as well as concerns about safety and security.
Residents of Riga have reported feeling less safe due to the rise in illegal migration, with detained illegal immigrants in Riga often appearing lost and disoriented, seeking contact with others like themselves.
Lukass also mentioned that the detained illegal immigrants arrived in Latvia from Belarus and Russia. However, the specific focus on African migrants in the new regulations encompasses all third countries, including the African continent.
Ratnieks believes that being proactive is necessary for future security, and he is urging illegal immigrants to heed his call to leave Riga and Latvia before it's too late.
Read also:
- United States tariffs pose a threat to India, necessitating the recruitment of adept negotiators or strategists, similar to those who had influenced Trump's decisions.
- Weekly happenings in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Southwest region's most popular posts, accompanied by an inquiry:
- Discussion between Putin and Trump in Alaska could potentially overshadow Ukraine's concerns
