Estonia extends border guard mission in Latvia amid rising illegal migration

Estonian Interior Minister Igor Taro (Eesti 200) has confirmed that illegal migration into Estonia has risen. As a result, Estonia will extend its ESTPOL11 border guard mission stationed on the Latvian-Belarusian border. More than 40 people were detained in Estonia over the past week on suspicion of staying in the country illegally.

Taro said that after a pause, a visit to Latvia convinced him personally that the situation remains difficult, prompting the decision to keep addressing the problem where it originates. He did not give an exact end date for the mission, though ESTPOL rotations are planned to continue until October 25. Taro explained that the aim is to cover the period until cold weather sets in, since past years show that once frost arrives, illegal migrants find it less comfortable to stay in Belarusian forests, and migration pressure typically eases.

According to the minister, migrants enter Estonia in waves — likely gathered in forest camps in Belarus and then moved in groups rather than individually, which is apparently considered a more effective approach. Taro stressed that the activity observed in Latvia is organized by another state, which explains the wave pattern.

Cooperation with Finland

Estonia has also asked Finland for assistance. Finnish border guards were initially meant to be deployed at the airport and port, but cooperation was later expanded — Finnish officers joined joint patrols in the Lääne and Lõuna prefectures, monitoring roads and transport hubs, including checking passenger buses.

About 80 migrants already returned to Latvia

All illegal migrants detained in Estonia who are believed to have arrived via Latvia are sent back to Latvia. Taro said cooperation with Latvia is proceeding well, and a significant share of those detained — around 80 people — have already been transferred. Estonia's detention center has capacity for 255 people and at one point held as many as 120.

The rural municipality of Rae, home to the detention center, has raised concerns about the burden it faces, since many migrants claim to be minors, requiring social workers' involvement. Taro acknowledged the concern is understandable but said he cannot dictate how local governments organize their work, adding that the issue needs to be discussed with the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Social Insurance Board.