Russia tightens migration legislation

Members of the State Duma of Russia are discussing 25 amendments to the migration law.

The committee of the State Duma had warned that there would be many amendments to the migration laws. In particular, according to the adopted amendments to the draft law regarding the police’s authority to make decisions on the expulsion of foreign citizens and stateless persons from the country, foreigners being expelled from Russia can now be placed in special facilities for up to 48 hours instead of 90 days, as was previously the case.

Previously, the police received the authority to make decisions on the administrative expulsion of foreign citizens and stateless persons from Russia without a court decision.

Now, if the police decide to expel foreigners from Russia, these individuals will have only two days to leave the country, and only a court decision can prevent the expulsion of a foreigner.

Additionally, deputies want to significantly tighten the requirements for foreign citizens when purchasing SIM cards. Now, those wishing to obtain a new number can do so by contacting a mobile company office and signing a mobile services agreement. For this, migrants will need to register in the unified biometric system.

Deputies are also considering tightening criminal liability for organizing illegal migration, blocking websites that sell counterfeit documents, and completely banning the involvement of intermediaries.

Earlier, the head of the Investigative Committee of Russia, Alexander Bastrykin, sent a proposal to the State Duma to strengthen control over migrants, including more stringent regulations regarding the deprivation of citizenship for naturalized citizens who commit any intentional serious or especially serious crime.

In October 2023, a draft law was submitted to the State Duma proposing to prohibit foreign citizens from working in schools, the pharmaceutical sector, state medical institutions, taxis, and freight transportation throughout the country.

After the attack on the Crocus City Hall concert venue, in which citizens of Tajikistan are suspected, thousands of Tajik migrants in Russian cities and regions have undergone mass checks and raids. Tajik labor migrants complain that during these raids, law enforcement officers detain even those whose documents are in order, take them to police stations, and keep them there without food and a place to sleep, treating them poorly. Following this, migrants were mass deported, with some being forcibly taken to military enlistment offices for further dispatch to the war in Ukraine.