Poland’s Human Rights Commissioner Raises Alarm Over Overcrowded Foreigner Centers

Poland’s Commissioner for Human Rights (RPO) has expressed serious concerns regarding the escalating overcrowding in the country’s guarded centers for foreigners. These facilities, which house individuals awaiting asylum or deportation decisions, are reportedly nearing full capacity, raising fears that conditions may soon fall below international human rights standards and pose a threat to the safety of those detained.

Key Takeaways

The RPO’s office has warned the interior ministry that overcrowding in foreigner centers poses a "real threat to the safety of foreigners."
Current regulations allow for as little as two square meters of space per person in these centers if vacancies are unavailable, a standard lower than international norms and Poland’s own standards for prisons.
The RPO is urging the interior ministry to address the situation by amending regulations, constructing new facilities, or expanding existing ones.

Growing Concerns Over Conditions

The RPO’s office initiated a review of occupancy data following reports of potential overcrowding. Their findings indicate that many guarded centers are operating at or near maximum capacity. Under existing regulations, if no vacancies exist, foreigners can be housed in spaces as small as two square meters per person for up to 12 months. This minimum space requirement is notably less than international detention standards and Poland’s own regulations for remand centers and prisons, which mandate three square meters per person.

A 2011 Supreme Court resolution also suggests that confinement in cells with less than three square meters per person could violate personal rights. The RPO emphasizes that individuals in these centers are not serving prison sentences and should not be subjected to less favorable conditions than convicted inmates.

Systemic Issues and Calls for Action

A 2022 report by the National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture (NPMT) highlighted "systemic problems" with living conditions in administrative detention centers during the migration crisis on the Belarus border, which began in mid-2021. In light of these findings, Deputy Human Rights Commissioner Adam Krzywoń has formally requested clarification from the interior ministry on plans to address the overcrowding. He inquired about potential amendments to current regulations, the construction of new centers, or the expansion of existing facilities.

Poland has seen a significant increase in asylum requests in recent years, with a 72% rise in 2024 compared to the previous year, reaching a record 15,000 applications. This surge, coupled with the government’s efforts to deport immigrants who violate Polish laws, has contributed to the strain on detention facilities. The government has also implemented stricter border controls and policies, including banning asylum claims from individuals crossing from Belarus and conducting large-scale operations leading to the detention and potential expulsion of thousands of foreigners.