All articles tagged with #border closures
Russia will temporarily halt movement at seven railway border crossings with Finland, Latvia, and Estonia starting July 1, per a government decree, with no end date announced; only Pechory and Pytalovo had been operating recently, Finland has already closed its border, and Moscow will notify the Finnish, Estonian, and Latvian governments.
Railroad companies and business groups are urging the U.S. government to reopen trade routes on the Texas-Mexico border after two crossings were closed due to a surge in migrant crossings. The U.S. Border Patrol apprehended around 10,800 migrants at the southwest border on Monday, with 40% being families or unaccompanied children. The closure of rail bridges in Eagle Pass and El Paso has raised concerns about significant economic harm and supply chain disruptions. The closures account for about 45% of Union Pacific's cross-border shipments, with an estimated overall economic impact of over $200 million per day. The closure of crossings is also expected to result in huge losses for agricultural trade.
Russia has lodged a formal complaint against Finland over the closure of four border crossings, which Finland implemented to stem the flow of asylum seekers. Finland alleges that Russia is deliberately bringing asylum seekers to the border, a claim that Russia denies. The Russian Foreign Ministry argues that the decision was rushed and violated the rights and interests of people on both sides of the border. Finnish President Sauli Niinisto called for a European Union-wide solution to address the situation, while Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo hinted at the possibility of further action if the situation does not change.
The closure of four border crossings between Finland and Russia to curb undocumented migration has sparked anger among Finland's Russian community, who fear being cut off from their relatives. Hundreds of protesters, including dual-nationals, gathered in Helsinki to voice their concerns, chanting "open the borders." While they support border security, they doubt the closures will effectively stop undocumented migrants. Finnish border guards reported a decline in asylum claims since the closures, but protesters argue that the move resembles a new "Iron Curtain." Helsinki accuses Moscow of directing migrants towards its crossings in response to Finland's closer ties with the US, a claim denied by the Kremlin.
Thousands of discouraged migrants, estimated to be around 7,000, are stranded in Niger due to border closures following a coup in the country. The closure of borders and airspace has made it difficult for these migrants, who were either trying to reach Europe or returning to their homes, to leave. The overcrowding of migrant centers has left many stranded on the streets, with limited prospects for voluntary return. Aid groups warn of food and water shortages if the borders don't open soon, and there are concerns about increased exploitation by traffickers and smugglers. The European Union has frozen assistance to Niger, and it remains uncertain how cooperative the new military leaders will be.
Lithuania has closed two of its six border crossings with Belarus, while Latvia and Poland are also bolstering their borders with Russia's ally. The Baltic states and Poland are discussing the possibility of a complete border closure. Latvia's border guards have been taking robust action against illegal crossings from Belarus, apprehending 40 people on August 15. Poland plans to deploy up to 10,000 additional troops to the border with Belarus to support the Border Guard.