The Constitutional Committee supported amendments to the State Borders Act to prevent illegal mass immigration

At its today’s sitting, the Constitutional Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) discussed the Bill that would give the government better opportunities to fight against massive illegal immigration in an emergency, when it constitutes a threat to public order or national security.

Chairman of the Constitutional Committee Toomas Kivimägi said that, considering the Belarusian hybrid attack against the external border of the European Union and the current security situation, we needed to increase our preparedness to resolve such attacks. “The State Borders Act needs to amended in order to prevent massive violent illegal migration and to be ready to stand against it and to ensure security,” Kivimägi explained. “Hopefully, it will never be necessary to implement these provisions, but deterrence and preparedness to stand against such attacks effectively is relevant in every way.”

Deputy Chairman of the Committee Eduard Odinets thinks that it is important to ensure that the rights of the people who want to cross the border are not violated. “We have to take into account that masses of people may reach at the border for various reasons, like fleeing from a disaster or a war,” he pointed out. “It is necessary to see that those who need protection will get protection.”

According to the Bill, the Police and Border Guard Board may, during an emergency, refuse to accept an application for international protection from an alien who has arrived in the country illegally and send them back from the border protection zone without issuing a precept to leave or a decision on prohibition on entry. The plan for emergency will be implemented by a directive of the Director General of the Police and Border Guard Board.

The Bill would also allow to involve more flexibly the Defence Forces and the Defence League in the protection of public and constitutional order during an emergency, when the resources of the Police and Border Guard Board are insufficient. Currently, the Defence Forces or the Defence League can be involved for a period not exceeding 30 days, but in the changed security situation it may be necessary to involve them for longer periods.

Minister of the Interior Kristian Jaani, Undersecretary for Internal Security, Migration and Public Order at Ministry of the Interior Veiko Kommusaar and Head of the Border Guard Policy Department of the Ministry of the Interior Janek Mägi participated in the sitting.

The Constitutional Committee decided to send the Bill on Amendments to the State Borders Act and Amendments to Other Associated Acts (577 SE), initiated by the Government, to the first reading at the plenary sitting of the Riigikogu on 20 April with the motion to conclude the first reading.

Source: Parliament of Estonia