Deportation bill aimed at stopping influx of migrants from Russia comes into force in Finland

By Leila Nezirevic

LONDON (AA) - A new deportation law granting Finnish border guards the power to turn back asylum seekers crossing from Russia became effective in Finland on Monday.

According to Finnish authorities, the bill is a reaction to Moscow’s “instrumentalized” migration escalating on the eastern border.

The law came amid Finnish accusations that Russia is "weaponizing" migration by encouraging migrants from countries such as Syria and Somalia to cross the border.

The legislation allows the Nordic country’s border authorities to refuse to accept asylum applications in certain circumstances in hopes of preventing the alleged deliberate funneling of asylum seekers to Finland's border checkpoints.

Now by law, immigrants who have entered the Nordic country can be removed or turned away when trying to cross into the country without the right to appeal.

In a decisive vote, Finland’s parliament approved the controversial law earlier this month after which Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said that the bill sends a “strong message to Russia.”

He emphasized that the decision speaks of Finland taking care of its borders and security.

Earlier this month, more than 200 researchers from different universities in Finland and abroad signed a petition calling on the parliament's administration committee to reject a controversial deportation bill.

"An act that derogates from the Constitution and that is vital for our national security has now been passed. I understand the tensions associated with the law," President Alexander Stubb said on Instagram after signing the legislation on Friday.

Researchers said the Finnish government has failed to prove that a rise in the number of asylum seekers would represent a security threat to Finland, according to national broadcaster Yle.

The petition argued that the number of people seeking asylum in Finland last year was within normal levels, said Yle.

Critics say that bringing the deportation law into force contravenes the Finnish constitution, as well as several international treaties Finland has signed up to, the broadcaster added.

But according to Orpo, the government “made sure that Finland is still a rule of law.”

He stressed the importance of finding a "European solution" to the situation.

The bill has raised much criticism among several institutions, including the Council of Europe's commissioner for human rights, Michael O'Flaherty, previously stating that the draft bill "raises a number of significant human rights concerns" and calling on Finland to reject it.