In recent months, a wave of stringent immigration enforcement actions has been sweeping across Western nations. The United States, under the Trump administration, recently launched a nationwide crackdown on undocumented immigrants, leading to the deportation of many individuals, including a significant number of Indian nationals. According to data provided by Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, the U.S. has sent back over 15,000 Indians since 2009.
A similar trend is now emerging in the United Kingdom. Under the leadership of Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, the Labour government has intensified its crackdown on illegal employment. In what has been described as a “UK-wide blitz,” authorities have targeted businesses such as Indian restaurants, nail salons, convenience stores, and car washes that employ undocumented migrant workers. In January alone, the Home Office conducted 828 raids—an increase of 48% compared to the previous year—leading to 609 arrests, a surge of 73%.
According to Cooper’s office, enforcement teams are responding to intelligence regarding illegal employment across various sectors. However, recent operations have largely focused on restaurants, takeaways, and the food and beverage industries. A single raid on an Indian restaurant in Humberside, northern England, resulted in seven arrests and four detentions, as reported by PTI.
With the UK and the U.S. ramping up their efforts against undocumented immigrants, many speculate that similar measures could soon be implemented in other European nations, including Poland.
Poland’s Hardening Stance on Immigration
Polish authorities have increasingly emphasized their commitment to maintaining strict immigration enforcement. The country’s Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak and Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, who is also a key presidential candidate for the upcoming May elections, have both declared a policy of “zero tolerance” for crimes committed by immigrants.
According to Polish law enforcement data, foreigners comprised 5% of suspected criminals detained in Poland last year. However, these figures must be considered in context—foreigners make up approximately 8% of Poland’s population, and the overall number of suspected foreign criminals actually decreased in 2024 compared to the previous year.
The discussion surrounding immigrant-related crime has gained momentum following recent reports that Georgian criminal groups are behind a resurgence of organized crime reminiscent of Poland’s turbulent post-communist era in the 1990s. The issue has become a key topic of debate in Poland’s political landscape, with authorities vowing to address it aggressively.
At a recent press conference, Minister Siemoniak reinforced the government’s commitment to tackling the issue. “We cannot allow organized criminal groups consisting of foreigners to disrupt public order and reduce the level of security,” he stated. “For the police and other agencies—such as the Border Guard and Internal Security Agency (ABW)—this is an absolute priority.”
He also highlighted the scale of the challenge, noting that the foreign population in Poland has grown significantly over the past 15 years, increasing from approximately 100,000 to 3 million.
Poland’s Unprecedented Immigration Wave
Poland has experienced an unprecedented surge in immigration in recent years, ranking among the European nations with the highest number of incoming migrants. For the past seven consecutive years, Poland has issued more first-time residence permits to non-EU immigrants than any other EU member state.
As the government takes a firmer stance on immigration enforcement, many are watching to see if Poland will follow the U.S. and UK in implementing large-scale immigration raids. While the primary focus remains on crime prevention, the broader implications of Poland’s immigration policies may soon mirror those seen in other Western nations cracking down on undocumented workers and unauthorized migrants.
