Finland adopts a firmer line

In the future, the police will check people crossing the border at Tornio using the means provided under the Alien's Act. From Saturday until Tuesday, persons applying for asylum are directed to emergency shelters in Tornio. After Tuesday, asylum seekers will be directed from the border to the registration centre. They can no longer continue to other parts of Finland from Tornio without registration as asylum seekers.

The anticipated backlog of asylum seekers in Tornio on Friday remained smaller than expected. Instead of the expected nearly a thousand asylum seekers, only about 500 people arrived in the country.

Inquiries:
Päivi Nerg, Permanent Secretary, tel. +358 50 456 1012