Setting up tents at Latvian-Belarusian border may give illegal immigrants wrong idea that they are welcome here - Pabriks

  • 2021-08-10
  • LETA/TBT Staff

RIGA - Setting up tents for illegal immigrants at the Latvian-Belarusian border could give them a wrong idea that they are welcome here, Defense Minister Artis Pabriks (For Development/For) told LETA.

The minister emphasized that the authorities had to act consistently and decisively, making sure that not a single illegal immigrant enters Latvia.

"I believe that the Cabinet of Ministers today will declare a state of emergency at the Latvian-Belarusian border. Once again, the Latvian army is ready to get involved and help the State Border Guard keep the peace at our borders," said the politician.

To that end, the Interior Ministry will have to promptly give the Border Guard and Armed Forces the relevant powers. The current hesitation and indecision may cost Latvia dearly, said Pabriks.

As reported, considering the growing migration crisis and Covid-19 pandemic risks, the capacity of the detention centers for foreign nationals has been exhausted, so it may be necessary to set up camps for accommodation of border offenders, the Head of the State Border Guard Guntis Pujats told LETA on Monday.