Poland mass arrests put 91 Ukrainians at risk of deportation
Polish police (Illustrative photo: Getty Images)
Poland is tightening migration control to the maximum level, reports Polskie Radio.
During the latest nationwide operation, which involved more than 27,000 officers, hundreds of foreign nationals were arrested.
The biggest impact was on Ukrainian citizens: 91 Ukrainians received orders for forced return to their home country in just one night.
Largest “sweep” of the year
The operation, which covered all Polish voivodeships on March 2–3, became a major test for foreign nationals. Police and the Polish Border Guard carried out nearly 1,800 targeted inspections at migrant residences and workplaces.
Interestingly, elite units also participated in the raids — including the Central Cybercrime Bureau and the Bureau of Police Investigations.
Security forces were searching not only for individuals evading justice but also for those whose stay in the country had long become illegal.
According to Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński, this was the first such operation in 2026.
W dniach 2–3 marca 2026 r. podczas ogólnopolskich działań koordynowanych przez Komendę Główną Policji zatrzymano blisko 2000 osób poszukiwanych listami gończymi i nakazami doprowadzenia.
— Polska Policja (@PolskaPolicja) March 4, 2026
W akcji wzięło udział 26 496 funkcjonariuszy Policji
Zatrzymano 147 obcokrajowców… pic.twitter.com/mIDBGEEJYp
In total, law enforcement detained 1,944 individuals who were evading justice. Among them were 147 foreign nationals wanted by Polish authorities on arrest warrants. The largest group among those detained was Ukrainian citizens.
Geography of detained foreign nationals:
- Ukrainians — 91 people (an absolute majority)
- Georgians — 14 people
- Belarusians — 8 people
- Moldovans — 3 people
- Russians — 2 people
Blisko 1800 kontroli i prawie 140 zatrzymań w całej Polsce to efekt wspólnej akcji @Straz_Graniczna i @PolskaPolicja. Funkcjonariusze sprawdzili legalność pobytu cudzoziemców przebywających w Polsce. Wszczęto także 130 postępowań o zobowiązanie cudzoziemców do powrotu. pic.twitter.com/Tc4EDyaach
— Marcin Kierwiński (@MKierwinski) March 4, 2026
Why 91 Ukrainians were targeted
Arrest statistics for foreign nationals show a clear trend: Ukrainians account for over 60% of all detained non-residents. The main reasons our citizens received deportation orders include:
- Overstaying visas: Many ignored the expiration of their visas or temporary protection status.
- Illegal work: Working without an official contract remains the fastest way to be deported during such raids.
- Security threats: More than 20 people on the overall list were deemed a threat to public order in Poland.
- Criminal warrants: Some detainees were wanted for offenses committed earlier within the EU.
What awaits the detainees
Poland’s Border Guard has already initiated more than 110 administrative deportation proceedings.
For most of the 91 detained Ukrainians, this means:
- Immediate cancellation of the right to stay;
- Forced escort to the border;
- A ban on entry to the Schengen Area for a period of 6 months to 5 years.
Polish authorities emphasize that such operations will now be conducted regularly. To avoid becoming the next target, experts advise Ukrainians to urgently check the validity of their documents in official registers and avoid any unofficial or illegal employment.
In the US, thousands of Ukrainians have found themselves in an uncertain legal status and are even at risk of deportation.
In addition, benefits for Ukrainian refugees are gradually being reduced in European Union countries. We previously reported that in which EU countries assistance for Ukrainians has been significantly cut.
