Finnish Border Guard prepares for implementation of new expulsion law along eastern border

The Finnish Border Guard is preparing for new situations that may arise from the implementation of a recently passed expulsion law along the eastern border. Containers have been set up at border stations for conducting interviews with asylum seekers. Under this law, asylum applications will only be accepted in exceptional cases, and individuals who cross the border despite barriers will face case-by-case evaluations.

Colonel Marko Turunen, Deputy Chief of the Border and Maritime Department, stated that the Border Guard has made necessary purchases to facilitate these assessments. “We have an obligation to establish the needed infrastructure, which includes access to water, restrooms, and shelter from the elements,” he explained. For instance, rented office containers will serve as interview locations where asylum seekers can discuss their cases, which may involve contacting interpreters.

In some scenarios, if an asylum seeker enters Finland overland and is 100 kilometers from a designated crossing, they will be transported to an agreed location for the evaluation. This evaluation could even take place in a patrol vehicle or a field station in emergencies. The law mandates that these interview assessments must be conducted quickly, with the aim of removing individuals primarily from border crossing points.

Individuals ordered for expulsion will receive a written notice detailing their decision and directions to apply for a re-evaluation within 30 days. They will also receive guidance on where to seek asylum.

The expulsion law, officially termed as “the law on temporary measures to counteract instrumentalized immigration,” allows border guards to prevent or remove asylum seekers, except in cases involving minors or individuals facing persecution. The law has been approved but requires decisions from the president and the government before it can take effect.

Training for 2,000 Border Guard personnel on the expulsion law is underway, with specific training for several dozen officers focusing on evaluation processes. The financial implications related to adjustments at the eastern border this year are expected to reach tens of millions of euros, with only a fraction directly attributable to the expulsion law. Additional funding may be required by the end of the year due to increased staffing and operational demands.