The Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) has announced plans to close several reception centers for migrants, with Finland’s Parliament recently reducing financial support for asylum seekers to the minimum level required by the European Union. According to an online press release published on July 1, Migri is set to shut down some accommodation centers and decrease the number of available places in these centers. This decision is attributed to a decreasing number of new applicants for international protection and recipients of temporary protection in the spring.
Migri highlighted that many recipients of temporary protection have moved from centers to municipalities, lowering the demand for accommodation. As a result, capacity will be scaled down by reducing the number of places in the operational reception units and closing some units. The Director of the Reception Services Department mentioned that some new reception units for adults and families will be converted into institutional reception units.
Several Finnish non-governmental organizations (NGOs), including Moniheli, Finnish Refugee Council, and Startup Refugees, have criticized the move. Aicha Manai, CEO of Startup Refugees, which assists migrants in finding employment, described the reduction in accommodation capacity as a political power move aimed at decreasing future migrant intake. She suggested that the decline in arrivals might be due to migrants being deterred by Finland’s policy changes.
In response to these criticisms, a Migri spokesperson clarified that the agency is not responsible for legislation but aims to ensure cost-effective operations of reception centers and adjust the number of places to the current need. The spokesperson also noted that Migri is prepared to increase the number of places if the number of applicants rises.
Currently, Finland has 76 reception centers, with three run by Migri and 23 units designated for underage migrants. Approximately 28,000 protection seekers are in the reception system, with 43 percent living in private accommodation and the rest in centers. The majority of these migrants are Ukrainians under the Temporary Protection Directive.
The reduction in accommodation capacities will take place over the summer and fall, potentially requiring some migrants to relocate. According to the press release, migrants can transfer to another unit, move to private accommodation, or apply for residence in a municipality. Ukrainian refugees who have been in Finland for at least one year can apply for a municipality of residence and have the same rights and services as other residents.
In early June, news emerged that Finland is enhancing its border security with Russia by constructing new fences, increasing guard patrols, and deploying drones and electronic detectors to shut down new migrant routes. In May, the Finnish government proposed temporary measures to address “instrumentalized migration” from Russia, aiming to destabilize Finland and the EU. The proposed legislation seeks to improve border security and counter migration tactics that threaten national security, including provisions to control irregular entry and potentially restrict asylum applications in specific border areas.
In separate developments, Finland’s Parliament last week reduced financial support for asylum seekers, as reported by the national broadcaster Yle. The reception payment, currently 348.50 euros per month for single persons and single parents (102.15 euros if meals are provided at the reception center), will be reduced to the minimum level permitted under EU law. The new law also prevents rejected asylum seekers from obtaining residence permits based on employment, entrepreneurship, or studies.