How ‘Special’ is the Special Law? Temporary Protection and Migration Infrastructure in Poland Following the Outbreak of the Full-Scale War in Ukraine
How ‘Special’ is the Special Law? Temporary Protection and Migration Infrastructure in Poland Following the Outbreak of the Full-Scale War in Ukraine

Summary/Abstract: This article analyses how actors involved in migration infrastructure in Poland responded to the introduction of the Act of 12 March 2022 on Assistance to Citizens of Ukraine in Connection with the Armed Conflict on the Territory of the Country (referred to as the ‘Special Law’) and how Ukrainian migrants themselves interpreted its implications. Although this Act established new legal protection for forced migrants, its application revealed significant limitations, including ambiguous enforcement mechanisms. This resulted in operational uncertainty for implementing organisations. Organisations with existing connections to migration infrastructure and past refugee assistance experience were able to quickly understand the new requirements by using established networks. Meanwhile, migrant organisations and social-media platforms emerged as the most effective channels for communicating essential information to forced migrants.

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