Polish PM says migrants who break law ‘will be deported’

WARSAW: Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Friday said his government would draw up plans to deport migrants who break the law of the EU country as Poland nears key presidential election in May.

Tusk also reiterated criticism of the European Union migrant relocation scheme, during a press conference in the port city of Gdansk alongside European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen.

“Anyone who is hosted in Poland, takes advantage of our hospitality and violates the law in a violent manner will be deported from Poland,” Tusk told reporters.

He added that the government was working on a “plan for an immediate response to organised crime and violent crime carried out by foreigners”.

Tusk, whose centrist camp faces an electoral threat from the nationalists in May presidential vote, has in past months vowed to partially suspend asylum rights and backed curbing benefits for Ukrainian refugees.

On Friday he also said Poland would not accept any “burdens” related to the EU migrant relocation scheme.

Last year, the EU adopted a major overhaul of asylum rules, which would require member states to take in thousands of asylum-seekers from “frontline” states such as Italy and Greece. Alternatively, they could provide money or other resources to under-pressure nations.

“If anyone in Europe were to say that Poland should take on even more burdens, then no matter who it is, I will tell them that Poland will not fulfill that. The end,” Tusk said.

He said Poland has already “opened its borders and hearts to two million refugees from Ukraine” following the Russian invasion and was facing illegal migration across its border with Belarus.