by Lessa Dreimiller
Thousands of migrants are stuck in camps in freezing forests and facing violence on the polish-Belaruas border. The situation is unlike any migrant crisis witnessed in the past years, as the sheer amount of migrants suffering has shocked the world. On November 16, when the migrants tried to force their way into Poland by throwing stones at the guards, they were faced with water cannons and tear gas, along with other forms of violence.
Belarus has invited migrants to travel through, in search of freer lands to live in, often the countries that border them, Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. Although Lukashenko (president of Belarus) and his government have denied having malicious intentions for the EU (European Union) by letting migrants through, many believe that this statement is untrue. He also was accused of escalating things at the border by having his troops throw firecrackers into the crowds, Lukashenko also claimed these statements to be untrue.
As a result of these actions, Poland's parliament passed an amendment that allows Illegal migrants to be turned away and sent back to Belarus immediately. As a result of this, migrants are being sent back to Belarus instead of being apprehended. Many expect this amendment to become a law in the near future.