Finland seeks to extend Border Security Act until 2028

The Finnish government is seeking to extend the Border Security Act, also known as the ‘turnback law’, until the end of 2028. This emergency legislation allows authorities to prevent the entry of asylum seekers and restrict the acceptance of asylum applications to counter instrumentalized migration, specifically in response to potential pressure from Russia at the eastern border.

Legal experts and officials have expressed reservations regarding the extension. Chancellor of Justice Janne Salminen noted that the justifications for a two-year extension are sparse and warned that such a move could significantly increase the law's total duration. Additionally, the Non-Discrimination Ombudsman cautioned that setting a low threshold for extending temporary laws risks turning exceptional measures into permanent ones.

The government maintains that the threat of instrumentalized migration remains high. According to the draft legislation, the Finnish Border Guard assesses that Russian state actors and criminal organizations retain the capability to use migration as a tool for state influence, posing a threat to national security and public order. To date, the law has not been applied.