During the first half of 2024, Russia saw a substantial number of people leave the country under deportation orders for violations of immigration laws. This figure comes from a report by DEA News, which cites data released by the Federal Bailiff Service (FSSP).
According to the FSSP, roughly 39,500 foreign nationals and people without a recognized nationality were deported from the Russian Federation for breaches of migration regulations in the January-to-June period. The agency summarized its half-year results, highlighting a strong emphasis on enforcing border and migration rules across the country.
In the lead-up to these figures, State Duma deputy Mikhail Matveev, who himself endured an attack by migrants, called for robust steps to strengthen Russia’s migration policy. He noted that many of the proposed policy measures would respond to migration-related crimes, but acknowledged that turning new laws into reality would require time and careful legislative work.
On July 29, the press service of the State Duma reported that Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin instructed deputies to draft legislation on the military registration of foreigners in parallel with the issuance of a Russian passport. This move signals an intention to tighten control over foreign nationals who obtain citizenship or residency, integrating border enforcement with civilian documentation processes.
Previously, the State Duma floated the concept of an “Immigrant Code,” a framework aimed at consolidating migration-related rules into a single legal instrument. The proposal reflects ongoing concerns about managing foreign presence and ensuring compliance with national regulations while balancing security and administrative efficiency.
Analysts note that the Russian approach to migration policy has become increasingly data-driven, with authorities tracing enforcement outcomes to specific policy instruments, from border checks to administrative penalties. Observers in Canada and the United States monitoring regional migration trends may see parallels in how nations recalibrate policy to address security, labor needs, and social integration. The focus in Moscow appears to be on strengthening information-sharing mechanisms, refining registration procedures, and ensuring that legal instruments align with actual enforcement practices.
While the figures referenced by the FSSP pertain to those deported for migration-law violations, broader conversations around migration policy in Russia involve a spectrum of issues, including how foreign nationals obtain residence, employment rights, and access to social services. The government’s stated aim is to create a more transparent, predictable framework that reduces abuses while supporting legitimate flows of workers and students. In this context, the proposed policy measures are part of a larger effort to harmonize administrative rules with security imperatives and economic realities.
Scholars and policy watchers emphasize that implementing new laws in any country is a staged process. Even when authorities announce ambitious reforms, practical adoption, regulatory detail, and interagency coordination dictate how quickly changes take effect. The dialogue within the State Duma, coupled with public statements from the executive branch, suggests a deliberate approach to policy design, with room for adjustments as the legislative timetable unfolds. In the meantime, enforcement actions appear to continue at a steady tempo, reinforcing the impression that migration policy remains a high priority for national governance.
As observers compare migration-management patterns across different jurisdictions, the emphasis in Russia on tracing deportations and tightening registration signals a broader trend toward more centralized oversight. Whether this leads to shorter processing times, clearer rules for foreign residents, or improved accuracy in documentation remains a topic of discussion among policymakers, employers, and civil society groups. The coming months are likely to reveal how these proposed instruments are shaped, refined, and implemented in practice, and how they will affect both foreign residents and domestic communities alike. Citations: official statements from the FSSP and the State Duma, as reported by DEA News.