UNHCR published its observations on the proposal to amend the draft Recast Immigration Law

UNHCR published its observations on the proposal of Ministry of the Interior of Latvia to amend the draft Recast Immigration Law. The proposal aims to implement the Screening Regulation and the Return Border Procedure Regulation, to align the draft Recast Immigration Law with certain provisions of the Eurodac Regulation, the Asylum and Migration Management Regulation, and transpose certain provisions of the Reception Conditions Directive. The proposal further clarifies the role of the State Border Guard and establishes the Ombudsperson’s mandate for independent fundamental rights monitoring.

UNHCR focused its observations on vulnerability screening, asylum access, fundamental rights monitoring mechanism, movement restrictions, detention, permit revocations, and notes that the draft law would significantly increase the residency period required for refugees to obtain Latvian citizenship.

UNHCR’s observations in English and Latvian can be found here.