In March 2025, Poland temporarily stopped registering asylum applications from migrants arriving from Belarus, calling it a short-term measure to counter what it described as a coordinated effort by Russia and Belarus to destabilize the region. This policy has continued for 18 months, and Poland is now pushing the European Union to permit similar temporary suspensions of asylum applications during instances of “instrumentalized” mass migration in other areas. Human rights advocates, however, warn that such actions could conflict with international law. The border between Poland and Belarus, a non-EU country closely aligned with Russia, is approximately 400 kilometers (250 miles) long. Since 2021, European Union officials have accused Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko of using migration as a tool by encouraging people to travel to Belarus for easier access to the EU, compared to the more dangerous Mediterranean migration routes. This has led to increased tensions and a rise in migration flows through the region. On September 16, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen introduced a new “European emergency response framework” aimed at addressing cases of “engineered and weaponized” mass migration. The framework would allow for temporary flexibility in applying standard migration procedures under specific circumstances, although the exact details remain unclear. Poland’s deputy interior minister, Maciej Duszczyk, welcomed the announcement, calling it a sign that Europe is adopting the “Polish solution” to such crises. Duszczyk pointed to the July border crisis in Ceuta, where over 70,000 people crossed from Morocco into Spain, as an example of how other EU countries could face similar challenges. Tineke Strik, a Dutch member of the European Parliament, expressed concerns that the framework might justify limiting asylum rights and weaken European and international asylum laws. She emphasized that individuals must always have the chance to apply for asylum before being returned to their country of origin. Michael O’Flaherty, the human rights commissioner for the Council of Europe, warned that discussions about suspending asylum rights in the EU could risk violating international law. Critics argue that legalizing the suspension of asylum procedures would breach the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits sending people back to countries where they might face persecution. Duszczyk maintains that Poland’s policy is in line with international law, allowing vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, children, or those facing persecution in Belarus to apply for asylum. However, the Polish ombudsman and NGOs have challenged this, noting that vulnerable individuals often struggle to have their cases recognized. Duszczyk argued that the world has changed since the 1950s, when international law was created to protect people from state violence. Karolina Czerwinska from the Association for Legal Intervention said that Poles on the front lines of the Ukraine war should ensure human rights are upheld. Human rights groups noted that von der Leyen’s announcement surprised them, as the EU’s new Pact on Migration and Asylum, which took effect three months ago, already allowed countries to deviate from standard asylum procedures. Duszczyk said the European Commission recognized the pact was “not enough” and that a new legal instrument is needed to suspend normal procedures during emergencies. The European Commission is expected to provide more details on the framework during a summit of interior ministers on October 1, with further discussions at a European Council summit later that month.