Ziobro in the U.S.: Prosecutor General Inquires About Legal Status of Former Minister

Poland’s Prosecutor General Waldemar Żurek has officially requested information from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement regarding the legal basis for former Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro’s current stay in the United States.

Inquiry sent to U.S. immigration authorities

In a Tuesday statement on X, Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek confirmed he has sent a letter to David J. Venturelle, acting head of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The inquiry seeks to determine the legal grounds for Zbigniew Ziobro’s presence on American soil, noting that the matter is of significant interest to Polish authorities.

The Prosecutor General reminded the public that Polish authorities have already invalidated both Ziobro’s standard and diplomatic passports. Additionally, the refugee status previously granted to him by the government of Viktor Orbán has been revoked, rendering his Geneva passport invalid.

Criminal charges and diplomatic context

Żurek informed the American side of the scale of the allegations against the former minister, who faces a total of 26 criminal charges. As reported by Radio ZET, the primary goal of the letter is to formally notify U.S. immigration services of Ziobro’s current legal and passport status, while detailing the political and legal context of his activities.

Żurek previously signaled his intention to send this letter by the end of May. During a July interview, he stated that the document would likely reach U.S. officials faster than a formal extradition request.

Status of the extradition request

Anna Adamiak, spokesperson for the Prosecutor General, confirmed that the extradition request is ready and will be processed soon. The document is currently undergoing formal analysis by the Bureau of International Cooperation of the National Prosecutor’s Office and will subsequently be translated.

Adamiak emphasized that, in accordance with the Polish-American treaty, the extradition procedure must strictly follow established diplomatic channels. Further updates are expected as the process continues.