Countries
1: Africa.
2: Americas.
3: Asia-Pacific.
4: Europe.
- 4.1: Belgium.
- 4.2: Bulgaria.
- 4.3: Cyprus.
- 4.4: Czech Republic.
- 4.5: Denmark.
- 4.6: Estonia.
- 4.7: Finland.
- 4.8: France.
- 4.9: Greece.
- 4.10: Hungary.
- 4.11: Ireland.
- 4.12: Italy.
- 4.13: Latvia.
- 4.14: Lithuania.
- 4.15: Luxembourg.
- 4.16: Malta.
- 4.17: Netherlands.
- 4.18: Poland.
  - 4.18.1: Introduction.
  - 4.18.2: List of Detention Sites.
  - 4.18.3: Map of Detention Sites.
  - 4.18.4: Country Links.
  - 4.18.5: Reference List.
- 4.19: Portugal.
- 4.20: Romania.
- 4.21: Slovakia.
- 4.22: Slovenia.
- 4.23: Spain.
- 4.24: Sweden.
- 4.25: Turkey.
- 4.26: Ukraine.
- 4.27: United Kingdom.
5: Middle East .

Quick Facts

Number of Detention Sites: 30 (2007-2008)

Number of Deportations: 2,833 (2008)

Undocumented Population: 50,000-300,000 (2004)

Number of Asylum Seekers: 8,517 (2008)

Length of Detention: Up to one year (2008)

Country Links

Last updated: May 2009

Poland Country Profile

Reference List

Alscher, Stefan. 2005. “Knocking at the Doors of ‘Fortress Europe’: Migration and Border Control in Southern Spain and Eastern Poland.” Center for Comparative Immigration Studies, Working Paper 126. University of California, San Diego. November 2005.
Council of Europe. 2007. Memorandum to the Polish Government: Assessment of the progress made in implementing the 2002 recommendations of the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights. Council of Europe. Strasbourg. 20 June 2007. https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc.jsp?id=1155005&Site=CommDH&BackColorInternet=FEC65B&BackColorIntranet=FEC65B&BackColorLogged=FFC679 (accessed March 15, 2009).
Council of European Union. 2003. Council Regulation (EC) No 343/2003 establishing the criteria and mechanisms for determining the Member State responsible for examining an asylum application lodged in one of the Member States by a third-country national. Council of the European Union. 18 February 2003. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!DocNumber&lg=en&type_doc=Regulation&an_doc=2003&nu_doc=343 (accessed 7 April 2009).
Cross-Border Co-operation/Soderkoping Process (CBCP). Website. EU Policy: Penetrating External Borders. http://soderkoping.org.ua/page18253.html (accessed 7 April 2009).
Cross-Border Co-operation/Soderkoping Process (CBCP). Website. Statistics. http://soderkoping.org.ua/page12462.html (accessed 7 April 2009).
European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment of Punishment (CPT). 2006. Report to the Polish Government on the visit to Poland carried out by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment from 4 to 15 October 2004. CPT. March 2006. http://www.cpt.coe.int/documents/pol/2006-11-inf-eng.htm (accessed March 15, 2009).
European External Borders Agency website (Frontex). 2009. “More About Frontex.” European External Borders Agency website. http://www.frontex.europa.eu/more_about_frontex/ (accessed on 20 April 2009).
European Parliament. 2007. The Conditions in Centres for Third Country National (Detention Camps, Open Centres, as well as Transit Centres and Transit Zones) with a Particular Focus on Provisions and Facilities for Persons with Special Needs in the 25 EU Member States. European Parliament, Directorate-General Internal Policies, Policy Department C, Citizens Rights and Constitutional Affairs. December 2007.
European Parliament. 2008. Draft Report from the Committee on civil liberties, justice and home affairs on the delegation to Poland. European Parliament, Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs. April 2008. http://www.europarl.europa.eu/document/activities/cont/200808/20080819ATT35298/20080819ATT35298EN.pdf (accessed March 30, 2009).
Flynn, Michael. 2006. “Europe: On Its Borders, New Problems.” Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. November/December 2006. http://www.globaldetentionproject.org/fileadmin/publications/Flynn_Europe_Migration.pdf (accessed 28 April 2009).
Gazeta Lubuska (Lubuska Newspaper). 2008. “Pogranicznicy Przerabiaja swoj areszt” (Pogranicznicy reprocess his arrest). 17 December 2008. http://www.gazetalubuska.pl/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081217/POWIAT06/890449063 (accessed March 15, 2009).
Hamburgisches WeltWirtschaftsInstitut (HWWI), Database on Irregular Migration. Website. Countries: Poland. http://irregular-migration.hwwi.net/Poland_Database.5800.0.html (accessed 7 April 2009).
Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), Caritas Poland. 2007. “Poland” in Civil Society Report on Administrative Detention of Asylum Seekers and Illegally Staying Third Country Nationals in the 10 New Member States of the European Union. JRS. December 2007. http://www.detention-in-europe.org/images/stories/10%20nms%20report%20final.pdf (accessed March 15, 2009).
Komenda glowna strazy granicznej (Border Guard Headquarters). 2008. “Kolejny Strzezony Osrodek dla Cudzoziemców w strukturach SG” (Another guarded Center for Foreigners in the structures of the SG). 29 August 2008. http://www.strazgraniczna.pl/wps/portal/tresc?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/pl/serwis-sg/wydarzenia/z_zycia_sg/lesznowola+przekazanie (accessed March 15, 2009).
Komenda glowna strazy granicznej (Border Guard Headquarters). 2008. “Powstanie strzezony osrodek dla cudzoziemców w Lubuskim Oddziale SG” (The creation of guarded center for foreigners in Lubuskim Division SG). 12 December 2008. http://www.strazgraniczna.pl/wps/portal/tresc?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/pl/serwis-sg/wydarzenia/z_zycia_sg/osrodek (accessed March 15, 2009).
Mazowiecka Komenda Wojewodzka Policji (Mazowsze Provincial Police Station). Website. Osrodek Strzezony dla Cudzoziemców w Lesznowoli. (Guarded Center for Aliens). http://bip.mazowiecka.policja.gov.pl/portal/kwr/wolnytekst/756/ (accessed March 30, 2009).
Minister Spraw Wewnetrznych i Administracji (Minister of Interior and Administration). 2002. Rozporzadzenie w sprawie wyznaczenia pomieszczen, w ktorych jest wykonywany areszt w celu wydalenia (Regulation on the designation of the premises in which it is performed in order to arrest deportation). 12 September 2002. http://www.infor.pl/dziennik-ustaw,rok,2002,nr,160/poz,1333,rozporzadzenie-ministra-spraw-wewnetrznych-l-administracji-w-sprawie-wyznaczenia.html (accessed March 15, 2009).
Minister Spraw Wewnetrznych i Administracji (Minister of Interior and Administration). 2006. Zarzadzenie nr 2 zmieniajace zarzadzenie w sprawie wyznaczenia pomieszczen, w ktorych jest wykonywany areszt w celu wydalenia (Order No. 2 amending the ordinance on the designation of the premises in which the arrest is carried out in order to expel). 27 January 2006. http://www.infor.pl/dzienniki-urzedowe/ministra-spraw-wewnetrznych-i-administracji,rok,2006,nr,4/poz,13,zarzadzenie-nr-2-ministra-spraw-wewnetrznych-i-administracji-zmieniajace.html (accessed March 15, 2009).
Minister Spraw Wewnetrznych i Administracji (Minister of Interior and Administration). 2007a. Rozporzadzenie w sprawie utworzenia strzezonego osrodka dla cudzoziemcow w Bialej Podlaskiej (Regulation on the creation of a guarded center for foreigners in Biala Podlaskal). 12 September 2007. http://www.infor.pl/dziennik-ustaw,rok,2007,nr,178,poz,1262,rozporzadzenie-ministra-spraw-wewnetrznych-i-administracji-w-sprawie.html (accessed March 15, 2009).
Minister Spraw Wewnetrznych i Administracji (Minister of Interior and Administration). 2007b. Rozporzadzenie w sprawie utworzenia strzezonego osrodka dla cudzoziemcow w Bialymstoku (Regulation on the creation of a guarded center for foreigners in Bialystokl). 4 October 2007. http://www.infor.pl/dziennik-ustaw,rok,2007,nr,197,poz,1434,rozporzadzenie-ministra-spraw-wewnetrznych-i-administracji-w-sprawie.html (accessed March 15, 2009).
Minister Spraw Wewnetrznych i Administracji (Minister of Interior and Administration). 2007c. Rozporzadzenie w sprawie utworzenia strzezonego osrodka dla cudzoziemcow w Przemyslu (Regulation on the creation of a guarded center for foreigners in Przemysl). 12 September 2007. http://www.infor.pl/dziennik-ustaw,rok,2007,nr,181/poz,1296,rozporzadzenie-ministra-spraw-wewnetrznych-i-administracji-w-sprawie-utworzenia.html (accessed March 15, 2009).
Minister Spraw Wewnetrznych i Administracji (Minister of Interior and Administration). 2007d. Rozporzadzenie w sprawie utworzenia strzezonego osrodka dla cudzoziemcow w Ketrzynie (Regulation on the creation of a guarded center for foreigners in Ketrzyn). 27 September 2007. http://www.infor.pl/dziennik-ustaw,rok,2007,nr,187/poz,1338,rozporzadzenie-ministra-spraw-wewnetrznych-i-administracji-w-sprawie-utworzenia.html (accessed March 15, 2009).
Minister Spraw Wewnetrznych i Administracji (Minister of Interior and Administration). 2007e. Zarzadzenie nr 61 w sprawie wyznaczenia pomieszczen, w ktorych jest wykonywany areszt w celu wydalenia (Order No. 61 on the designation of the premises in which the arrest is carried out in order to expel). 3 September 2007. http://www.infor.pl/dzienniki-urzedowe/ministra-spraw-wewnetrznych-i-administracji,rok,2007,nr,9/poz,43,zarzadzenie-nr-61-ministra-spraw-wewnetrznych-i-administracji-w-sprawie.html (accessed March 15, 2009).
Minister Spraw Wewnetrznych i Administracji (Minister of Interior and Administration). 2007f. Zarzadzenie nr 90 zmieniajace zarzadzenie w sprawie wyznaczenia pomieszczen, w ktorych jest wykonywany areszt w celu wydalenia (Order No. 90 amending the ordinance on the designation of the premises in which the arrest is carried out in order to expel). 11 December 2007. http://www.infor.pl/dzienniki-urzedowe/ministra-spraw-wewnetrznych-i-administracji,rok,2007,nr,12/poz,66,zarzadzenie-nr-90-ministra-spraw-wewnetrznych-i-administracji-zmieniajace.html (accessed March 15, 2009).
Minister Spraw Wewnetrznych i Administracji (Minister of Interior and Administration). 2007g. Zarzadzenie w sprawie wyznaczenia pomieszczen, w ktorych jest wykonywany areszt w celu wydalenia, Projekt (Order on the designation of the premises in which the arrest is carried out in order to expel, Project). 2007. http://www.bip.mswia.gov.pl/download.php?s=4&id=961 (accessed March 15, 2009).
Minister Spraw Wewnetrznych i Administracji (Minister of Interior and Administration). 2008a. Zarzadzenie nr 55 zmieniajace zarzadzenie w sprawie wyznaczenia pomieszczen, w ktorych jest wykonywany areszt w celu wydalenia (Order No. 55 amending the ordinance on the designation of the premises in which the arrest is carried out in order to expel). 4 July 2008. http://www.infor.pl/dzienniki-urzedowe/ministra-spraw-wewnetrznych-i-administracji,rok,2008,nr,11/poz,52,zarzadzenie-nr-55-ministra-spraw-wewnetrznych-i-administracji-zmieniajace.html (accessed March 15, 2009).
Minister Spraw Wewnetrznych i Administracji (Minister of Interior and Administration). 2008b. Zarzadzenie nr 76 zmieniajace zarzadzenie w sprawie wyznaczenia pomieszczen, w ktorych jest wykonywany areszt w celu wydalenia (Order No. 76 amending the ordinance on the designation of the premises in which the arrest is carried out in order to expel). 29 October 2008. http://www.infor.pl/dzienniki-urzedowe/ministra-spraw-wewnetrznych-i-administracji,rok,2008,nr,15/poz,76,zarzadzenie-nr-76-ministra-spraw-wewnetrznych-i-administracji-zmieniajace.html (accessed March 15, 2009).
Police. 2008. “Wizyta europarlamentarzystów w osrodku dla cudzoziemców” (The visit of MEPs in the resort for foreigners). 2 April 2008. http://www.policja.pl/portal/pol/1/18085/Wizyta_europarlamentarzystow_w_osrodku_dla_cudzoziemcow.html (accessed March 15, 2009).
Powiatowe Centrum Edukacyjne w Ketrzynie. (Provincial Education Center in Ketrzyn). 2009. “Wizyta w Strzezonym Osrodku dla Cudzoziemcow” (Visit to the Guarded Center for Foreigners). 15 March 2009. http://www.pceketrzyn.fc.pl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=106&Itemid=1 (accessed March 30, 2009).
The regional coalition, Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights. 2006. “Poland” in Survey on Detention of Asylum Seekers in EU Member States. Sona Aujeska, the Regional Coalition. 2006. http://alternatives-to-detention.org/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/Survey%20on%20Detention%20of%20Asylum%20Seekers%20in%20EU%20Member%20States.pdf (accessed March 15, 2009).
Rzecznik Praw Obywatelskich (Ombudsmen for Citizen Rights). 2008a. Raport z dzialalnosci Biura RPO w 2007 r. w zakresie ochrony przed torturami oraz innymi formami okrutnego, nieludzkiego lub ponizajacego traktowania albo karania. (Report on the activities of the Office of the Ombudsman in 2007 on the protection against torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment). April 2008. http://www.rpo.gov.pl/index.php?md=4578&s=1 (accessed March 15, 2009).
Rzecznik Praw Obywatelskich (Ombudsmen for Citizen Rights). 2008b. Wizytacje Krajowego Mechnizmu Prewencji w 2008 R. (Visits of National Prevention Mechanism Prevention in 2008). 2008. http://www.rpo.gov.pl/pliki/12308953110.pdf (accessed March 15, 2009).
Rzecznik Praw Obywatelskich (Ombudsmen for Citizen Rights). 2009. Wizytacje Krajowego Mechnizmu Prewencji w 2009 R. (Visits of National Prevention Mechanism Prevention in 2009). 2009. http://www.rpo.gov.pl/index.php?md=6056&s=1 (accessed March 30, 2009).
Straz Graniczna (Border Guard). Website. Struktura SG: Placówka SG w Bialej Podlaskiej - Strzezony Osrodek i Areszt w celu wydalenia. (Border Guard Structue: Guarded Center and Deportation Arrest). http://www.strazgraniczna.pl/wps/portal/tresc?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=pl/serwis-sg/struktura_sg/oddzialy/ww_naosg130508/o_psg+w+bialej+podlaskiej/ (accessed March 30, 2009).
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). 2006. The Monitoring of Access of Refugees and Other Persons of Concern to UNHCR to Refugee Status Determination Procedure in Poland. UNHCR. December 2006. http://www.pomocprawna.org/publikacje.html (accessed March 22, 2009).
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). 2009. Asylum Levels and Trends in Industrialized Countries 2008: Statistical Overview of Asylum Applications Lodged in Europe and selected Non-European Countries. UNHCR. 24 March 2009. http://www.unhcr.org/statistics/STATISTICS/49c796572.pdf (accessed 7 April 2009).
Urzad do Spraw Cudzoziemcow (UDSC) (Office for Foreigners). Website. Centres for Foreigners. http://www.udsc.gov.pl/Polski,system,opieki,nad,uchodzcami,120.html (accessed 7 April 2009).
Urzad do Spraw Cudzoziemcow (UDSC) (Office for Foreigners). Website. Poland in Schengen. http://www.udsc.gov.pl/Polska,w,Schengen,566.html (accessed 7 April 2009).
Urzad do Spraw Cudzoziemcow (UDSC) (Office for Foreigners). Website. Statistics. http://www.udsc.gov.pl/Zestawienia,roczne,233.html (accessed 7 April 2009).
Ustawa o cudzoziemcach (the Aliens Law). 13 June 2003. http://www.udsc.gov.pl/Ustawy,182.html (accessed 7 April 2009).
Ustawa o udzielaniu cudzoziemcom ochrony na terytorium Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej (the Law on Granting Protection to Aliens on territory of Republic of Poland). 13 June 2003. http://www.udsc.gov.pl/Ustawy,182.html (accessed 7 April 2009).