Latvia closes its borders. The government will not accept fresh migrants

– The position of the government is absolutely clear: Latvia will not accept fresh migrants and will not pay for them. That's why we've strengthened border protection, and the barrier on the east border is ready. – said Baiba Braže, head of Latvian diplomacy.

Thanks to the officers

During the speech in Parliament, Baiba Braže presented the main directions of this year's Latvian abroad policy, paying peculiar attention to the importance of border protection services.

– Thank you to the Border defender and another 24/7 services, which have prevented about 12,000 attempts to illegally cross the border from Belarus last year She stressed.

In January, the Ministry of Defence of Latvia released evidence showing that the Belarusian law enforcement services and military units were active in directing illegal migrants from 3rd countries to the border of Latvia. Latvia has been facing the problem of utilizing migration and smuggling of people from the east direction since 2021.

Modern Border Guard

The authorities in Riga have already completed the installation of the barrier at the border with Belarus, and in late 2025 a key phase of work was completed to safe the border with Russia. According to the state construction company Valsts Nekustamie Ipašumi, about 280 kilometres of fences were erected on the Latvian-Russian section, creating a single barrier where method conditions allowed. Newer parts are equipped with additional infrastructure.

The Head of the Ministry of the Interior of Latvia stressed that the country's precedence was to build the most modern border service on the external border of the European Union.