The Berlin Backdoor: How Germany Uses Poland as Its Migrant Dumping Ground
Hybrid tactics, fake documents, drone jamming—no, it’s not Belarus. It’s Germany. And Tusk is too weak to fight back.
Some time ago, we called Donald Tusk the Polish Joe Biden—but we must now admit that, although both politicians clearly act(ed) against the interests of their own countries, President Joe Biden can at least argue that during his time in office, he was an old, feeble man who no longer had full command of his mental faculties. Donald Tusk, on the other hand, is younger and (presumably?) of sound mind. If the two politicians were truly mirror images of each other, Biden would have to allow illegal migrants into the U.S. due to some personal subservience to Mexico and its interests. That is precisely what Donald Tusk is doing with the migrants being dumped on us by Germany—we reported on this as early as February of this year.
While both men bear serious responsibility for the dysfunction of the states they lead or led, it is the issue of migration that will ultimately define their political legacies. As the Polish Prime Minister’s approval ratings sink to an all-time low in his political career, Tusk has decided to make a move that reeks of public relations theater—again, on the issue of migration. On Thursday, July 3rd, it was announced that as of Monday, July 7th, border controls with Germany and Lithuania would be reinstated for a period of 30 days.
This reaction is too little and far too late for anyone to take his supposed seriousness on the matter at face value—especially given how desperate he is to avoid “stepping on Germany’s toes.” Heaven forbid Donald should upset them. Yet the situation on the western border is now arguably worse than at any point since the beginning of the Fourth Republic. German authorities—both police and border guards—are behaving scandalously, even hostilely. Not to mention the series of illegal actions they are committing, such as push-backs. Let us recall that in October 2021, the European Union imposed a formal legal sanction on Poland by initiating infringement proceedings under Article 258 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, citing “violations of EU asylum law.” Since the beginning of this year, Germany has been doing exactly the same thing (and worse), and the EU remains completely silent—demonstrating just how corrupt this institution truly is. Polish conservative politicians are now calling for strong diplomatic action—including the possible expulsion of the German ambassador back to Berlin.
Temporary Reinstatement of Border Controls by Poland
Following months of mounting pressure and public criticism, the Polish government has reintroduced border checks on crossings with Germany and Lithuania, beginning July 7, 2025, for a 30-day period. The decision was formalized in a regulation from the Ministry of the Interior and Administration (MSWiA) and published in the Journal of Laws. It affects 52 crossings on the German border and 13 on the Lithuanian border - although it is worth noting, that “constant monitoring” will only be carried out at 16 and 2 points respectively. So only less than a third of the crossings will be controlled. As we wrote earlier - too little, too late.
MSWiA emphasized that the new controls are aimed at “verifying whether migrants returned by Germany actually meet the legal conditions for return under EU law”. The ministry pointed out that since May 8, 2025, Germany has begun denying asylum applications from any migrant who previously entered through another EU state—effectively turning Poland into a default recipient of rejections. Polish conservative voices remain skeptical. "This isn’t a genuine security policy—it’s a PR maneuver," said Ruch Ochrony Granic (ROG - eng. Border Defense Movement) chief Robert Bąkiewicz, suggesting that the move was designed to deflect criticism as Tusk’s popularity hits record lows. Meanwhile, ROG and other activist groups continue to patrol the border and report violations, often filling gaps left by official agencies.
Poland’s regulation echoes what Germany itself has done for years. As noted in official commentary, Berlin has had ongoing border controls with Austria since 2015 and expanded them in 2024 to include all nine neighboring countries. Critics say the EU's Schengen rules are applied inconsistently, favoring Germany over other states.
Lack of Polish Data on Migrant Returns from Germany
The government, specifically the Ministry of the Interior and Administration (MSWiA) and the Border Guard, has confirmed that it does not maintain comprehensive statistics on the number of illegal migrants returned to Poland by Germany outside of the formal Dublin and readmission procedures. This revelation came from Deputy Minister Czesław Mroczek, who admitted during an interview with Radio Zet that the data is still being "coordinated with the German side." This admission followed persistent inquiries from journalists and public outrage, particularly after conservative activists and MPs accused the government of downplaying the scale of the migrant return issue.
Official Polish statistics only include narrow categories: in 2023, 564 people were returned under readmission, and 404 under the Dublin procedure; in 2024, 357 and 331 respectively; and by June 22, 2025, only 89 and 225. However, these numbers are misleading. As Mroczek himself admitted, "In 2024, we checked it, we coordinate these data with the Germans – around 10,000 people were refused entry to Germany, and this year it’s 4,500. Half of them are Ukrainian citizens." Even this statement was later contradicted by a fellow cabinet member. Adriana Porowska, Minister for Civil Society, stated publicly that "9,000" migrants were returned at the German border in 2024, before admitting that these were German figures, not Polish. Asked about Polish records, she vaguely stated they would be available "from Monday."
Data provided by the German Federal Police (Bundespolizei) reveal a drastically different picture: 1,705 people were returned in 2023 and 9,369 in 2024. Despite repeated requests from independent media and public watchdogs, the Polish Border Guard has failed to supply equivalent statistics. In April, they even issued a blunt response: "Such data is not collected." One partial exception was the Nadodrzański Border Guard division, which admitted that 238 migrants were returned outside of formal procedures in just the first half of 2025—on only one segment of the border. This contradicts Mroczek’s earlier claims that most returnees were Ukrainians; in fact, the majority came from Syria, Afghanistan, Russia, and Tajikistan.
The lack of proper documentation and oversight has alarmed Polish conservatives. “We are becoming a dumping ground for Germany’s migrant problem—and our own authorities can’t even tell us how many people we are taking in,” said MP Dariusz Matecki (PiS). Activists from the ROG have argued this reflects a deliberate cover-up to avoid straining relations with Germany.
German Authorities Circumvent Polish Border Guard Decisions
Recent reports have revealed that German border authorities are pushing illegal migrants into Poland even when Polish border officials refuse to accept them. One specific case gained widespread attention after being documented by ROG chief Robert Bąkiewicz and reported in German newspaper Welt. On July 3, Bąkiewicz released footage from Gubin showing German officers escorting a migrant into Poland at a location where no Polish officers were present—only members of the Border Defense Movement (ROG).
The foreign national, undocumented and lacking any form of identification, was rejected by the ROG members and told to return. However, according to Welt, German police later contacted the Polish Border Guard to demand the migrant be formally accepted, but the Polish commander refused. Undeterred, the Germans allegedly drove the 18-year-old to another border crossing in Bad Muskau—some 60 kilometers away—where there were no Polish personnel or activists to intervene.
This pattern of behavior, described by critics as "border dumping," has led many to draw disturbing comparisons. "How is this different from what Belarus does on our eastern border?" asked the conservative social media account "Służby w akcji" ("Services in Action"), tagging Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak directly. The incident raises legal and diplomatic questions about Germany's respect for Polish sovereignty.
Furthermore, German media coverage framed the ROG as an "extremist citizen militia," a term rejected by Polish conservatives. They argue that without such activism, many of these violations would remain undocumented. MP Dariusz Matecki stated, "This is not just a migration issue—it’s a matter of national dignity."
Escalation of German Hostility on Polish Border
The situation on the Polish-German border has significantly deteriorated in recent weeks, with German federal police accused of increasingly hostile and provocative actions toward Polish citizens and volunteers. Reports include the use of high-powered lights to blind activists, deliberate disruption of drone surveillance flights on Polish territory, and even illegal incursions into Polish land.
German police officers, after crossing the border, try to question Polish citizens. On what basis does the German police operate on Polish territory? On none - it is a blatant violation of the law.
One of the most egregious incidents occurred on June 25, 2025, when two Polish volunteers monitoring the border were detained by German officers at the Lubieszyn-Linken crossing. Days later, in the night of July 5–6, German police allegedly attempted to detain members of the Border Defense Movement on Polish soil, near Krzewina Zgorzelecka, shouting aggressive commands. Robert Bąkiewicz described the incident as an "open provocation," posting video footage of a German car using headlights to blind Polish observers across the border.
These aggressive tactics have been compared to hybrid warfare. “This is disturbingly reminiscent of what Lukashenko’s forces do on the Belarusian border,” said MP Matecki. Dr. Bartosz Lewandowski, a legal expert, emphasized the illegality of these cross-border actions: "German police have no right to operate on Polish soil without formal bilateral agreements or legal justification. This is a violation of Polish sovereignty and of Schengen rules."
German police during an unsuccessful attempt to transport migrants to Poland - recorded by ROG activists. At the end, German policemen “greet with sympathy” the Poles who hinder them in carrying out their orders...
Suspicion also surrounds the German documentation process. Polish media reported that German authorities often issue return documents based solely on verbal statements from migrants, with no verification. In one case, Somali migrants apprehended in Szczecin were found without passports or visas—only with documents issued in Germany based on self-declared information. Critics note the frequent use of generic birthdates like "January 1," raising questions about fraud and identity masking.
In the end, the facts paint a grim picture: Poland is being treated like a buffer state, the EU turns a blind eye to German abuses, and Donald Tusk offers only symbolic gestures to save face. With conservative voices raising alarms and activists doing the work of the state, the crisis at the western border is no longer just a matter of migration—it’s a question of sovereignty.
The government’s delay, deflection, and denial are no longer acceptable. What is needed now is not just border checks, but a fundamental policy reversal. If Tusk continues to serve Berlin more than Warsaw, Poland’s sovereignty will remain under siege—from without and within.