On Monday, 84 people attempted to illegally cross the Latvia–Belarus border, bringing the total number of individuals prevented from crossing the border this year to 3 486, according to the State Border Guard.
For humanitarian reasons, Latvia has admitted 55 individuals this year—the most recent one on Monday.
With the arrival of warmer weather, the flow of illegal immigration from Belarus has resumed. At the same time, supporters of illegal border crossings have also become more active.
As previously reported, a unit of 11 personnel from the Estonian Police and Border Guard Department has recently arrived from Tartu to assist their Latvian colleagues in managing illegal border crossings along the Belarusian border.
In December last year, the Latvian government extended the enhanced border protection regime along the Belarusian border until the 30th of June 2025.
This enhanced border regime was introduced in response to an increased flow of illegal migrants orchestrated by Belarus. Initially, the government had planned to maintain the regime until the end of 2024.
The enhanced control regime currently applies to Ludza and its surrounding parishes, Krāslava and its parishes, Augšdaugava municipality, Daugavpils, and Kaunata parish in Rēzekne municipality.
Furthermore, as of the 19th of March 2025, the Latvian border checkpoints with Russia and Belarus—Pāternieki, Grebņeva, and Terehova—may now only be crossed by vehicle. This decision was made by the government following a request from the State Border Guard, citing the current geopolitical situation due to Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
Last year, 5 388 individuals were prevented from illegally crossing the Latvia–Belarus border, while 26 people were admitted into the country on humanitarian grounds.