1. OF THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA
IMMIGRATION SERVICE,
STATE BORDER GUARD
OF THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA

2. - EU’s external sea border 931 km
Area
64 600 sq. km
Population
2.4 million
Capital
Riga
Republic of Latvia:
437 km - EU’s external land border
498 km
- EU’s external sea border
931 km
- EU’s internal border
Total length km
ICELAND
FINLAND
NORWAY
SWEDEN
RUSSIA
ESTONIA
NORTH
IRELAND.
LATVIA
DENMARK
IRELAND
LITHUANIA
UNITED
RUSSIA
KINGDOM
BELO
RUSSIA
HOLLAND
GERMANY
POLAND
BELGIUM
LUXEMBOURG
UKRAINE
CZECH. REP.
SLOVAK REP.
FRANCE
MOLDAVIA
SWITZERLAND
AUSTRIA
HUNGARY
SLOVENIA
ROMANIA
CROATIA
BOSNIA -
HERCEGOVINA
PORTUGAL
ITALY
SMN
SPAIN
BULGARIA
MACEDONIA
ALBANIA
GREECE
TURKEY
MALTA
CUPRYS

3. INTERNATIONAL LEGAL ACTS
State Border Guard performs its tasks in accordance with the EU legal acts:
EU Treaty;
Schengen Agreement and Schengen Convention;
Dublin Convention and Dublin Regulation (EC) 343/2003;
Regulations (Border Code, FRONTEX);
Directives;
Decisions (Common Consular Instruction, etc.)
as well as pursuant to generalization of the EU’s best practices in border control and protection – Schengen Catalog.

4. NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE ACTS
Law on State Border of the Republic of Latvia
Law on the State Border Guard
Immigration Law
Law on Asylum
Code of Administrative Offenses
of the Republic of Latvia
Law on Administrative Procedure
Law on Criminal Proceedings
Criminal Law
Law on Labor
In accordance with these laws, the Rules of the Cabinet of Ministers
of the Republic of Latvia have been passed, which are binding on the SBG.

5. IMMIGRATION SERVICE IS AN INSTITUTION RESPONSIBLE FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF READMISSION AGREEMENTS
Latvia’s readmission agreements with the Schengen Agreement/EU countries:
Austria
Belgium
Denmark
France
Greece
Lithuania
Spain
Italy
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Hungary
Portugal
Finland
Germany
Sweden
Romania
Bulgaria
Switzerland
Estonia
Norway
Slovenia
Poland
Latvia’s readmission agreements with third countries:
EU’s readmission agreements with third countries:
Albania
Macao
Hong Kong
Serbia
Sri Lanka
Russia
Moldova
Montenegro
Macedonia
Bosnia
Ukraine
Croatia
Armenia
Liechtenstein
Ukraine
Uzbekistan
Georgia

6. READMISSION ASPECTS
The Latvian party’s conclusions within the Söderköping Process framework in on readmission procedures.
To secure respect of human rights it is necessary to improve return procedures according to the readmission agreements between the EU and third countries.
Practical implementation of a EU’s readmission agreement with a third country requires additional legal measures (protocol on compliance with the EU Treaty between the specific EU Member State and the third country).

7. Institutions responsible for migration control and securing migration policy in the Republic of Latvia
State Border Guard
Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, Ministry of Interior
Consular Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Diplomatic and consular missions of the Republic of Latvia
These institutions ensure an organized character of migration, guarantee the right of asylum, and implement migration policy according to EU regulations.

8. Working to strengthen border security and improve aliens control within the State:
1994–1995 – an information and technical system for border control at the Border Guard established
1994 – protocol signed between the governments of the Republic of Latvia and the Russian Federation on establishment of a Joint Latvian-Russian Working Group for border issues
1997 – border guard became a professional unit within the Ministry of Interior
1997–1999 – agreement signed with Lithuania and Estonia to use the parties’ databases for border control at joint border control posts
2000- Expert Examination Center of the Latvian Border Guard created
2002 – immigration control service within the border guard established to deal with aliens control throughout the Latvian territory; its staff structure reinforced, personnel increased, and its technical and legal framework strengthened
2002 – Border College created to provide officer and inspector staff
2003 – Latvian Government developed and approved a strategy for integrated management of state border security; Council for Integrated Border Security established, chaired by the Minister of Interior
2003 – governmental instruction approved for organization of cooperation among the Border Guard, State Police, Customs, and Border Sanitary Inspectorate

9. 2004 – independent institute of border representatives (full-time staff positions) created in the Latvian Border Guard
2005 – Border Guard’s Criminal Research Service reinforced, and possibility of using special methods of investigation provided
protocol signed between the governments of the Republic of Latvia and the Russian Federation on establishment of a Joint Latvian-Russian Working Group for migration
Schengen evaluation and practical implementation of recommendations
1 Sep 2007 – connection to the Schengen Information System (SIS)
21 Dec border control on internal borders abolished, Schengen requirements introduced in full, and contact points on internal EU borders established
30 Mar border control in airports abolished

10. Cooperation in risk analysis
SBG
Police
Customs
Sanitary Inspectorate
Foreigners’ illegal entry, exit and stay
Support for and supervision over regime on BCS, border stripe and border area
Human smuggling
Trafficking in drugs, firearms, and other prohibited items
Illegal delivery of transport means across the border
Detention of wanted persons
Illegal delivery of goods, weapons, drugs and other prohibited items across the border
Violation of the rules of cross-border movement of food and animals subject to sanitary inspection
Participatory risk analysis

11. PREVENTIVE MEASURES TO RESTRICT ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION:
holding administratively liable
annulling foreigners’ visas according to Immigration Law
follow-up on orders for voluntary departure from the country
detention of foreigners for staying in the country illegally, and supervision in special centers
making and executing a decision on forced expulsion of a foreigner from the country
extending the detention period by district courts to execute forced expulsion decisions
putting a foreigner on the list of persons banned to enter Latvia or Schengen countries
SBG CONDUCTS CRIMINAL RESEARCH ACTIVITIES IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS:
repeated illegal crossing of the state border during a year
human smuggling across the state border
person concealment when or after crossing the state border by a person who lost legal grounds to stay in the Republic of Latvia
assisting in illegal stay of persons in the Latvian territory
using a false or stolen document or seal if committed when or after crossing the state border by a person who lost legal grounds to stay in the country

12. Results from 2006 through September 2008 achieved due to involvement in the Söderköping Process
On immigration issues
SBG representation in various courts on immigration, administrative and criminal cases greatly increased
Cooperation and interaction improved between state institutions and public organizations
Legislation meeting international standards adopted
Active cooperation on information/experience exchange with Schengen states and third countries (systematic meetings on various levels with representatives of Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, and other countries)

13. On asylum On expulsion Securing transparent asylum procedures
Providing competent legal counseling by state legal assistance agents and public organizations to apply to appellate institutions
On expulsion
Endorsement of projects for financing, reconstruction and building of accommodation centers for detained aliens
Conclusion of international agreements
Observance of human rights, improving the return procedure as per readmission agreements between the EU and third countries
Improving practical implementation of readmission agreements through additional legal measures (signing implementing protocols between individual countries)
Taking part in joint flights organized by FRONTEX for expulsion and in special training courses

14. Contribution made within the Söderköping Process framework
Organizing a visit by Söderköping Process participants to OLAINE accommodation center for detained alines (Riga, May 2008)
Organizing a visit to MUCENIEKI accommodation center for asylum seekers

15. Representation of the State Border Guard in various levels of immigration courts

16. DETAINED FOR ILLEGAL BORDER CROSSING AND BREACH OF THE PROCEDURE OF ENTRY AND STAY IN THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA (Article 51, Immigration Law)

17. Nationality of detainees

18. Number of expelled persons
Republic of Latvia
STATE BORDER GUARD
Number of expelled persons 18

19. Nationality of persons expelled
Republic of Latvia
STATE BORDER GUARD
Nationality of persons expelled 19

20. Number of asylum seekers in Latvia
Republic of Latvia
STATE BORDER GUARD
Number of asylum seekers in Latvia 20