Undocumented Immigration to Latvia Generates Higher Costs

A growing number of undocumented immigrants coming to Latvia is generating additional costs for the country’s budget, the chairman of the For Latvia from the Heart party told Sputnik Friday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik), Daria Chernyshova — Latvia, as well as other EU countries, is trying to resolve a major refugee crisis, as tens of thousands of people land on European shores, traveling across the Mediterranean Sea from conflict-torn countries in North Africa, the Middle East, and Central and South Asia.

“Illegal immigrants create additional expenses to the country's budget, because not only do we have to pay for their stay in Latvia, but also we have to pay fees to bring illegal immigrants back to their homeland,” Inguna Sudraba, Latvia’s former deputy finance minister, said.

She explained that to return each refugee to Vietnam, Latvia must spend up to 2,500 euros ($2,800). Sudraba noted also that the past 12-month period through July there were over 200 undocumented immigrants detained, compared to 140 in the previous year.

“I believe that illegal immigration is becoming a problem for Latvia,” Sudraba said.

Latvia has seen an increasing number of refugees crossing its border from Russia, particularly nationals of Vietnam, Afghanistan, Russia and Iraq.