Estonia returns migrants to Latvia as border pressure persists
Estonia has transferred a total of 27 migrants who entered the country illegally to Latvia, according to the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA). The latest handover took place on Monday morning, when eight men from Somalia were turned over to the Latvian border guard at the Ikla checkpoint. The Somali nationals had arrived in Estonia in July and August, having traveled through Belarus and Latvia, with the goal of reaching another Schengen country, as reported by ERR.
Earlier that week, on Wednesday, August 12, four men and one woman were handed over at the Latvian border, and on Thursday, August 13, six more men were returned, according to both ERR and Inbox.eu. The foreign nationals involved in these transfers came from Somalia, Morocco, Ethiopia, and Eritrea, and had entered Estonia over the previous couple of months. In addition, eight people were handed over by the PPA to the Latvian border guard on August 5; ERR reports that these eight were male immigrants from Ethiopia.
Migrants' routes and intentions
According to the migrants, their goal was to pass through Estonia to other Schengen countries, as reported by Inbox.eu. The arrivals are part of a surge in illegal migration that began in July, with the PPA launching 17 criminal investigations connected to the surge since the beginning of the year, out of a total of 26 investigations into cases of illegally transporting foreign nationals across the border. There are currently 109 foreign nationals in the detention center, ERR reports.
Legal basis for returns
Estonia's returns to Latvia are governed by a long-standing regional agreement. Since 1995, an agreement between Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania has regulated the readmission of persons illegally residing in the countries, as noted by Inbox.eu. Under this agreement, foreigners who illegally entered Estonia from its territory can be returned to Latvia.
Indrek Aaru, head of the border guard bureau of the Põhja Prefecture, explained that the return of illegally arrived foreigners is always preceded by thorough work in both Estonia and Latvia. "To expel an illegally arrived foreigner, it is necessary to establish their identity, ascertain their origin, as well as their true intentions in Estonia and the Schengen area," he said. He added that "the authenticity of the statements of illegal migrants should be checked particularly carefully, and the potential threat to national security and public order should be assessed."
Aaru noted that conversations with foreigners require translation from languages that are "quite exotic" for Estonia, which makes the process time-consuming and incurs significant costs. He also acknowledged that while Estonia has felt increased pressure from illegal immigration over the past three weeks, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland have been dealing with several times greater migration pressure for five years. "These countries have done a very good job," Aaru said.
Verification of age claims
Nearly half of the foreign nationals who arrived illegally in Estonia in July and August have claimed to be minors. To verify these claims, the PPA has formed an interdisciplinary commission to assess the migrants' actual ages, as reported by ERR. The commission includes a psychologist, a medical specialist, a local government representative, a child protection specialist from the Social Insurance Board, an expert from the Tallinn migration center, and a representative of the PPA. The first assessments are expected later this week.
Initial interviews by the commission have shown that a significant number of foreign nationals who presented themselves as minors are most likely adults, according to ERR. Border guard chief Veiko Kommusaar described the age-assessment process as new and labor-intensive for Estonia, requiring strong and fast cooperation among several agencies. "This situation tests the capabilities of all parties, but at the same time helps build knowledge and practical experience. Considering developments in migration pressure across Europe, there is no reason to think these challenges will disappear soon," Kommusaar said.