13-04-2018
Illegal migration is one of the fundamental threats, which for many years has remained a problem not only for Ukraine but also for the EU countries.
It should be noted that due to its geopolitical location, over the past few decades Ukraine not passing illegal migrants to its territory has become a reliable shield of the external EU borders. It is only since independence the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine detained about 150 thousand of illegal migrants at the Ukrainian border, of which 123 thousand for illegally crossing of the border, and denied in entry to nearly 180 thousands of potential illegal migrants, and more than 40 thousand of illegal foreigners were deported from Ukraine.
However, over the last three years, attempts by migrants to cross illegally the border have decreased significantly: in 2015 – 1807 persons, 2016 – 1040 persons, in 2017 – 886).
It should be noted that the change in the flows of illegal migrants through Ukrainian territory to the Western Europe was preceded by painstaking daily work of the border guards. There were years, especially in 1994-1999-s, when the peak flow of the migrants was more than 65 thousand foreigners. In the next few years, due to the improvement of border protection system there was marked a a decline in illegal migration by 50-70%. However, in 2003-2005, the criminal elements restructured the flows and, as a consequence, there occurred intensification of illegal migration, mainly due to a significant increase of the migrants from the CIS countries. The next few years, the CIS citizens has remained to be the largest category of the irregular migrants. Since 2008 at the borders with EU countries it has been managed to reduce the number of attempts to breach the border by the illegal migrants by 10% in subsequent years a continuous decline in illegal migration is recorded. For example, in 2008, 3,4 thousand migrants were apprehended for illegal cross of the border, and in 2016 – 1.04 thousand.
Note that, as a rule, for the illegal migrants to move via the territory of Ukraine in the beginning they attempted to enter legally by valid document with a different purpose, in particular, education, tourism, business, private affairs. And soon, their further movement was organized to the Western area in order to cross illegally the border. Thus, there are records about the formation of a network of highly profitable criminal business, specializing in the illegal migration, in particular smuggling, production of counterfeit documents of high quality and the organization of transportation. The fight against this transnational criminal network is complicated due to an extensive activities of its representatives in various countries, which for the organization of illegal activities, use advanced communication.
To fully counteract illegal migration in Ukraine the appropriate normative-legal framework in the sphere of combating illegal migration has been established, a variety of public programs has been consistently implemented, coordination of integrated border management is improved as well international cooperation is developed with relevant European institutions and establishments of the EU countries.
The border guards of Belgorod-Dniester Detachment detained a woman from Armenia and a citizen of Moldova, who illegally crossed the Ukrainian-Moldovan border.
The border guards Separate checkpoint “Kyiv” exposed a foreigner who resorted to cunning for illegal crossing of the border using a completely fake passport.
The border guards of Sumy Detachment together with the operational staff of SBGSU detained illegal migrant.
The State Border Guard Service continues applying systematic measures to combat illegal migration across the state border.
Illegal migrants attempted to cross the border beyond the check points in Lviv region. However, local residents noticed the unknown persons in the suburb of the village and informed the border guards of Mostyskyi Detachment. Reaction group started to the place immediately and after locality inspection revealed two foreigners. The men did not have any documents, but introduced as the citizens of Azerbaijan. So far, the offenders are detained and sent to the Temporary Holding Facility. Previously it was established that the foreigners arrived to Ukraine as provided by the law, other details of infringement are established.
The staff of SBGS registered four cases of unlawful gratuity, thus involving law enforcers into activity contrary to the law. The citizens of Turkey, Georgia and India tried to bribe the border guards of separate Check Point “Kyiv” offering them a bribe in amount of $620 in order to get positive decision as to their admission to the territory of Ukraine. In addition, the citizen of Uzbekistan offered the border guards of Lutsk detachment the gratuity in the amount of $10 in the check point “Domanove” at the border on Belarus in order to cross the state border without any obstacles. National Police was informed about all offenders as the signs of criminal crime were established provided by the Article 360 of the Crime Code of Ukraine “offer, promise or provision of unlawful gratuity to an official”.
Three men and woman with child were apprehended by the border guards of Bilgorod-Dnistrovskyi Detachment last night in Odessa region for their attempt to cross the border. Two Ukrainians – both residents of border area, together with 34-year-old citizen of Moldova and her 10-months daughter tried illegally to get to the neighboring country beyond the check point “Rozalivka. Evidently, they were detained by the reaction group of the BD “Stepanivka”. Soon, the woman told the law enforcers that she decided to do this as she had lost her documents necessary for border crossing. Detainees were called to administrative responsibility for attempt to cross illegally the border. The woman’s relatives brought her documents from the neighboring country, identifying her and child, afterwards they returned home. One more violator – 23-year-old citizen of Moldova was also apprehended at night by the border guards of the neighboring department “Kuchurhan” at night. Having no passport documents he tried also to return to his country in illegal way. Protocols were drawn up as to the foreigner under the Part 2 Article 202 and 204-1 of Administrative Infringement Code of Ukraine.
Seven illegal migrants were apprehended by the border guards of Chop Detachment at night in Uzhhorod. Information about the group of Asians stay in the suburb of the town was received by the militaries from the Patrol Police. The border guards started immediately to the mentioned place and in the course of joint actions with Police the foreigners were detained. They had no documents, however, introduced themselves as the citizens of sri-Lanka. Soon, after the interview the detainees confessed that they arrived to Transcarpathia in order to get to the EU countries in illegal way. Illegal migrants were delivered to the department of BS “Uzhhorod” for conducting filtration actions and drawing up procedural documents. Upon establishing all circumstances they will be made responsible for attempt to cross the state border.
Five illegal immigrants were detained by the staff of SBGS close to the state line.