POLICY REPORT ON IMMIGRATION AND ASYLUM IN LATVIA ...

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illegal immigrants, as well as by improving the mechanisms for detection, registration and
return of illegal immigrants. The Government plans to simplify the procedure for issuance of
visas, according to examples of good practice among Schengen member states. 14
Politicy report on migration and asylum situation in Latvia in 2009 mentions active
debates in the society and political circles that are related to drafted amendments to the
Immigration Law 15 (henceforth – the Amendments). One of the purposes of the Amendments
was to facilitate the conditions for obtaining a residence permit to third-country nationals,
which will make significant investment to the Latvian economy that may be made by
purchasing valuable real estate. Since Saiema election was held in Latvia on 2 October 2010,
some political parties used the said Amendments as a part of their pre-election campaign.
On 14 January 2010, Saeima adopted the Amendments in the second reading. 16
On 4 March 2010, Saeima approved Law Amendments to the Immigration Law 17 ,
however the debates of the members about the Draft law at Saeima lasted more than three
hours by marking two opposing views because several political parties saw not only economic
but also political aspects in the Law. Members of opposition political parties and Tautas partija,
which is a part of the government, voted for the Draft law in its final reading.
Several members related the Amendments to the Law to threats to the people of Latvia.
Member of association "Tēvzemei and Brīvībai/LNNK", Dzintars Rasnačs, called the
Amendments the "soft occupation" as it is said to be related to increased influence of Russia in
Latvia. Saeima group of association "Tēvzemei and Brīvībai/LNNK" even started collecting
signatures of 34 Saeima members in order to oblige the President of the State to suspend
announcement of the adopted Amendments for a period of two months. "Almost a half of the
Saeima members are against such amendments to the Immigration Law which threatens to turn
Latvia into the back door for citizens of the CIS countries 18 for their entry to the Schengen
zone. New influx of Russian speaking immigrants is absolutely not necessary for Latvia, and
14 Deklarācija par Valda Dombrovska vadītā Ministru kabineta iecerēto darbību (Declaration about the Activities
Planned by the Cabinet of Ministers of Valdis Dombrovskis).// http://www.mk.gov.lv/lv/mk/darbibureglamentejosie-documenti/valdibasd/
- [see: 23.11.2010]
15 Executive summary to the draft law "Amendments to the Immigration Law".//
http://ww.saeima.lv/saeima9/lasadd=LP1001_0 – [see: 10.03.2009]
16 Fridrihsone M., Izsniedzot uzturēšanās atļaujas apmaiņā pret investīcijām, cer radīt 5000 darbavietu (By Issuing
Residence Permits in Exchange to Investment, Hope to Create 5,000 Jobs).//
http://www.db.lv/2/a/2010/01/14/Izsniedzot_uztureshanas_at - [see: 14.01.2010]
17 Law "Amendments to the Immigration Law" .// The Latvian Herald, No. 74, 12.05.2010 [valid from
01.07.2010]
18 CIS countries – the Commonwealth of Independent States.