PM Tusk asks consulates in US to prepare to assist Polish citizens amid Trump’s deportation plans

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Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk has instructed foreign minister Radosław Sikorski to ensure Polish consulates in the United States are prepared to assist citizens in case of potential deportations following the inauguration of new US President Donald Trump.

“Every Pole [who seeks to return to Poland] will be warmly welcomed into the country,” Tusk assured, speaking ahead of a cabinet meeting in Warsaw, reported the Polish Press Agency (PAP). “There may be no cause for concern, but Poland will be well prepared for any situation.”

Tusk’s comments have drawn sharp criticism from the opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party, which accused him of being alarmist and jeopardising Poland’s relations with the US.

Tusk’s remarks come amid heightened rhetoric from the Trump administration regarding immigration to the US. Even before taking office, Trump and his advisers signalled their plans to ramp up deportations of undocumented migrants, particularly those with criminal records.

On Monday, Trump signed a flurry of executive orders, including declaring a state of emergency at the US-Mexico border and restricting the automatic granting of citizenship to children born on US soil to undocumented immigrants and short-term visitors.

While Tusk acknowledged that details of the US administration’s plans regarding deportations remain unclear, the Polish authorities are taking precautions to safeguard their citizens.

“We have not received any information on whether this operation could affect Polish citizens residing in the United States,” said Tusk. “Either way, we need to be prepared, which is why our outposts in the States will reach out as quickly as possible to citizens who are feeling concerned about this situation.”

“I asked the foreign minister to prepare our consulates, posts and services in the United States for the possible consequences of these decisions concerning Poles working and living in the United States with different statuses and levels of legality,” Tusk said.

Tusk also pointed to improved living standards and a thriving job market as reasons for Poles abroad to consider returning. “Anyone who wants to work and believes in their own future will find opportunities here,” he said.

He highlighted the significant economic progress Poland has achieved in recent decades, transforming into one of Europe’s fastest-growing economies.

The foreign minister, Radosław Sikorski, announced that increased consular support for Poles living in the US would include the introduction of additional duty stations outside the usual consulate buildings.

“Compatriots living abroad whose passports have expired are invited to obtain new documents,” he wrote on X.

Sikorski also highlighted that a valid document will soon be necessary for those wishing to participate in Poland’s upcoming presidential election this May.

Paweł Jabłoński, a PiS MP and former deputy foreign minister, described the remarks as “extremely irresponsible” and warned they could damage bilateral ties.

“Poland’s prime minister is increasingly spoiling Poland’s relations with the US and fuelling psychosis among Poles living there,” he added in a post on X.

PiS MEP Piotr Müller, a former government spokesman, echoed the criticism, accusing Tusk of attempting to create a smokescreen to hide his administration’s shortcomings. “Tusk seeks to provoke every possible dispute and conflict to cover the ineptitude of his government,” Müller wrote on X.

Notes from Poland is run by a small editorial team and published by an independent, non-profit foundation that is funded through donations from our readers. We cannot do what we do without your support.

 Main image credit: European Council President / flickr.com (under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Alicja Ptak

Alicja Ptak is senior editor at Notes from Poland and a multimedia journalist. She previously worked for Reuters.