67% of Poles Support Deporting Unemployed Ukrainian Men, Poll Shows

A poll found that 67% of Poles support deporting unemployed Ukrainian men of military age who lack legal employment, setting public opinion against the Polish government’s position. The survey measured support for removing Ukrainian men aged 25–60 under those conditions.

The IBRiS Institute for Market and Social Research conducted the poll on August 7–8, 2026. It found that 67.2% favored deportation, while 23.4% opposed the proposal and 9.4% remained undecided.

Support was strongest among right-wing voters, reaching 79%. Respondents aged 50 and older registered 80% support. The measure also drew backing from 52% of voters aligned with the ruling liberal-left coalition.

The Polish government rejected the proposal on August 9, 2026. Karolina Gałecka, spokesperson for the Ministry of the Interior and Administration, called it “pure absurdity and populism.”

“95% of Ukrainian men in Poland are working legally and paying taxes regularly, thereby contributing to the country’s economic growth.”

Gałecka said current law already permits authorities to deport foreigners who commit offenses or violate the terms of their stay.

Poland’s government says existing rules already cover unlawful stays

The government has defended the economic contribution of nearly 1 million Ukrainian refugees in Poland. The opposition Law and Justice party has advocated stricter enforcement focused on men without legal employment.

The proposal is narrower than a general deportation policy. It targets Ukrainian men of military age who do not have legal jobs.

The government’s position rests on existing immigration rules. Those rules allow deportation when a foreign national commits an offense or breaches the conditions of lawful stay.

The poll’s political breakdown shows support extending beyond the opposition’s base. More than half of liberal-left coalition voters backed the measure, despite the government’s rejection.

A separate U.S. move could end work authorization for some Ukrainians

The Polish dispute comes as U.S. agencies address the immigration status of Ukrainian nationals. On August 6, 2026, USCIS indicated that it would process the lapse of employment authorization for beneficiaries of Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, from several countries, including Ukraine, after certain legal stays expired.

The agency issued the following notice after a federal court ruling:

“USCIS is expected to issue instructions concerning the lapse of employment authorization for TPS beneficiaries from. Ukraine”

USCIS provides information about Ukrainian nationals on its Ukraine information page. Its SAVE program also lists a Ukraine Security Supplemental update.

The U.S. action concerns employment authorization and immigration status. It does not create a Polish policy requiring the deportation of unemployed Ukrainian men.

Rights groups criticized U.S. removals routed through Poland

Amnesty International and Human Rights First sent a joint letter on May 13, 2026, criticizing Polish cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. The organizations described the removals as “unlawful mass deportations” of Ukrainians.

ICE reportedly carried out removal operations through Poland’s Rzeszów-Jasionka airport in November 2025 and March 2026. The groups argued that returning people to a country affected by war raises concerns under the principle of non-refoulement.

The criticism focused on U.S. removal operations, not on the Polish poll proposal. The two issues involve different governments and legal mechanisms.

Ukrainian and U.S. officials described removals as legally limited

Olha Stefanishyna, Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States, addressed the U.S. removals on November 14, 2025. She said authorities were deporting people who violated U.S. immigration law.

“Deportation is a widely used legal mechanism. applied to all foreign nationals and stateless persons who violate the terms of their stay in the United States, regardless of their nationality”

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security gave a limited response regarding specific deportation flights in late 2025. The department said, “The US Department of Homeland Security said it did not have any announcements at this time,” while maintaining that removals target people with final orders of expulsion.

Poland’s government has not adopted the proposal backed by the poll. Its August 9 response instead pointed to current immigration rules, while Law and Justice continues to press for a tougher approach tied to employment status.

This article provides general information and is not legal advice. Consult a qualified immigration attorney about your specific case.