There are more than 4,500 illegal migrants in Tatarstan

These data are provided by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tatarstan based on the register of controlled persons.

On June 19, the head of the migration department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Tatarstan, Marat Galeev, stated that there are currently 4,500 illegal migrants in the republic. According to him, there are more than 109,000 foreign citizens in Tatarstan.

Galeev specified that the number of illegal citizens can be judged by the register of controlled persons. This register is dynamic and can change every day.

Moreover, Galeev noted that the migrant register, which began operating in Russia this year, works in automatic mode and not all data is yet organized. The figures may not always correspond to reality. Employees process information daily, and individuals mistakenly included in the resource are removed.

Tatarstan is considered one of the favorite destinations for Tajik migrants seeking work. Thousands of Tajiks head to this region every year to earn money. However, the exact number of illegal migrants among Tajiks is unknown.

Earlier in June of last year, the State Duma of Russia adopted a bill tightening the regime for migrants in the Russian Federation. The bill also proposed the creation of a register. The President of Russia signed this document on August 8, 2024.

The register started operating in February 2025, and it is intended to include foreign citizens who are illegally in Russia. If individuals are included in the register, they are subject to deportation from the country.

The list also includes children. Individuals in the register cannot change their place of residence, acquire or dispose of property, get married, or drive a car.

According to Rosstat, in 2024, the migration growth in Russia amounted to 568,500 people. In February, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation reported more than 95,000 migrants who are in the country illegally. As noted by the representative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, Irina Volk, last year more than 190,000 migrants were deported from Russia, and another 260,000 were denied entry.