The Right-Wing’s New Fake News: Forced Migrant Housing Myth Debunked

The Polish Ministry of Internal Affairs has officially refuted viral disinformation claiming that citizens owning homes over 60 square meters will be legally forced to accommodate African migrants.

Government Denies Mandatory Housing Plans

In recent days, false reports circulated online claiming the government intended to force owners of houses and apartments exceeding 60 square meters to host African migrants arriving from Germany. These claims suggested that local governments and security services would oversee the placement of migrants into private residences.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration (MSWiA) officially denied these reports on the platform X, confirming that no such legislation is being drafted. The Ministry emphasized that neither local authorities nor security services will direct migrants to private homes. Furthermore, no evidence of such plans exists in the Government Legislation Centre or the Council of Ministers’ legislative agenda.

From Question to Manufactured Claim

The Ministry noted that while some original posts were removed, identical disinformation persists across various social media groups dedicated to political figures. Fact-checkers at Demagog identified that the narrative originated as a loaded question before evolving into a definitive, widely shared false claim.

Experts suggest the disinformation may have been inspired by a 2016 satirical text from the International Federation for Human Rights, which used a provocative headline about 60-square-meter homes to warn against the dangers of spreading online misinformation.

Poland’s Status Regarding the EU Migration Pact

The EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, which regulates asylum systems across member states, officially entered into force on June 12. While the pact was approved by the Council of the European Union in May despite Polish opposition, Poland remains exempt from the mandatory solidarity mechanism.

Under the pact, member states can contribute via migrant intake, financial payments, or operational support. Poland is currently exempt from these solidarity requirements, primarily due to the significant number of Ukrainian refugees it has already accepted.