The problems of illegal migration and potential terrorist threats are relatively new phenomena in Poland. Until recently, Poland was a country of emigration. This was caused by the collapse of the Polish state at the end of the 18th century and the division of the country by three neighbours: Russia, Austria, and Prussia, which would later become Germany. This period, known in Polish history as the period of partitions, was a time of mass exodus of the inhabitants of the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
In the 19th century and throughout most of the 20th century, millions of Poles and Polish Jews left occupied Poland in search of a better life. Today, more than 30 years after regaining independence, Poles are much less likely to leave in search of a better life; in fact, the opposite trend is emerging. Westerners, frustrated by the inconsistent migration policies of their countries and the rise of Islamist movements, are beginning to emigrate to Central and Eastern European countries such as Poland.
Islamism as an ideology is not visible in Poland, but with the influx of immigrants who are needed by the economy, Muslims are also arriving. For now, they mainly come from former Soviet republics such as Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan. Their practice of Islam does not have any radical features, but attempts to radicalise them have occurred, for example, during the wars in Chechnya and Afghanistan.
It is worth noting in this context that Poland’s contacts with the Islamic world date back at least to the 14th century, when the Tatar Lipka tribe settled in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Over the following centuries, they served in the Polish-Lithuanian Army until 1939.
Poland and the Ottoman Empire established official diplomatic relations as early as the 15th century. For centuries, Poland was considered one of the bulwarks of Christianity, defending against the advance of Islam in Europe. Polish statesmen and, more broadly, the magnates—especially those from the southern part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth—were well versed in the traditions and culture of Islam, which left its mark on the worldview of the Polish elites. These centuries-long trade contacts and conflicts influenced Polish culture. Many Polish literary classics are set during the wars with the Ottoman Empire and the Crimean Tatars.
This context is important because, although as a result of World War II and communism Poland became practically mono-ethnic, in the past it was quite the opposite. The Polish state was inhabited by all major monotheistic religions, as well as various branches of Christianity and minor sects. Today, Poland’s mono-ethnicity is advantageous in the context of the threats posed by migration and terrorism. Unlike Sweden, which opened itself up without careful consideration to people from very different cultures. Due to the poverty that prevailed in the country in the 19th and 20th centuries, Poles emigrated worldwide in search of better living conditions and have family members scattered across the globe. As a result, Poles are quite aware of the potential risks posed by the new model of multiculturalism promoted by liberal-leftist elites.
The West is experiencing a crisis of identity and faith, and Western European countries are also facing serious challenges in integrating millions of newcomers from Africa and Asia, as well as new illegal migrants who, since the so-called Arab Spring in 2010, have flooded the West, creating major difficulties for host countries. Once again, Poland finds itself between a rock and a hard place. On the one hand, the European Commission and “humanitarian” NGOs are attempting to use migrant relocation mechanisms to transfer unwanted newcomers to Poland; on the other, the authoritarian regimes of Putin and Lukashenko are applying pressure on Poland’s eastern border by creating an artificial migration crisis at the end of 2021. Russian and Belarusian security services lured Syrians, Afghans, Iraqis, and others by promising them easy entry into the EU via Poland, while extorting money from them and detaining them in the border zone. Once there, it became clear that Poland had no intention of opening its doors to these people.
It was a form of preparation for the invasion of Ukraine. It aimed to create chaos and another “humanitarian crisis” that would paralyse Polish law enforcement. The conservative Law and Justice government responded vigorously by sending the army and police to assist border guards. At first, the EU struggled to decide whether to support the Polish government or condemn it for its “inhuman” treatment of migrants. Common sense prevailed. Russia’s full-scale, brutal attack on Ukraine in February 2022 finally left no one in doubt about the nature of the ‘crisis on the eastern border of the EU.’
The crisis at the border continues, and unfortunately, one soldier was killed after being stabbed by an aggressive migrant and 63 were injured. This shows the scale of the problem. Poland was forced to erect a 185 km long wall along the border with Belarus. Initially, the liberal opposition sabotaged the actions of the conservative government and the Polish administration, trying to play on emotions by portraying these unnatural migrants as victims of a heartless Polish ‘fascist’ government. Today, the former opposition rules Poland, and no reasonable person blames Warsaw for the current situation.
Another problem related to illegal migration arose in the summer of this year, this time on the western border. The Commission is trying to force Poland to accept illegal migrants from Africa and the Middle East, which has caused quite a stir in Poland. There have been many cases in which the German police simply drove migrants to the Polish border and released them, forcing them to cross over to the Polish side.
For years, the European Union has been pressuring Poland, since its accession to the community in 2004, to seal its eastern border, which has made it more difficult for ordinary citizens of Ukraine and Belarus to enter Poland. Now, 20 years later, member states are often forced, through blackmail, to legalise illegal migration policies. It should be mentioned here that, as a result of Russian aggression in Ukraine, Poland voluntarily accepted Ukrainian refugees who were hosted in the private homes of Poles without bureaucratic coercion. Millions of Ukrainian citizens fleeing their war-torn country passed through Poland, of whom well over a million remained.
75% of Poles oppose the European Union’s proposed migration pact and mandatory relocation of migrants from the Middle East and North Africa, according to a survey commissioned by RMF FM radio in February 2025.
All these threats associated with uncontrolled migration from non-European countries and the growing threat of Islamic fundamentalism mean that the vast majority of Polish society, regardless of their political views, agree on one thing: Poland wants to remain a country where “Polishness” is a central element of the country’s culture and where immigrants integrate through work.
Last but not least, with the ongoing war in Ukraine, Russia has sent saboteurs all across the country. Industrial buildings have been set ablaze in the last 3 years. Foreign immigrants were recruited to carry out those acts. Mostly Ukrainian and Belarusian nationals. It is certain that Russia will use every possible means to destabilise Poland, and the influx of additional immigrants, especially from Muslim countries, could become a severe and unwanted national security threat.
