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Poland dismisses viral claims over migrant housing

16.06.2026 20:30
Poland's interior ministry has dismissed claims circulating on Facebook that the government plans to force homeowners with properties larger than 60 square metres to house migrants.
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Pixabay LicenseImage by memyselfaneye from Pixabay

The ministry said on Tuesday the story is simply untrue – no such law is being prepared, and no officials will be sending migrants into people's homes.

The false claims specifically alleged that homeowners would be required to accommodate "African immigrants" arriving from Germany.

At least one of the posts has since been removed, though near-identical content remains visible on Facebook groups associated with Polish politicians and journalists.

Polish fact-checking outlet Demagog noted that the same claim appeared in the headline of a 2016 article by the International Federation for Human Rights.

Though the article's authors noted in the text that the claim was false, the misleading headline went on to circulate widely.

The piece drew controversy at the time and was reported on by French media.

The story comes as the EU's migration and asylum pact took effect on June 12.

The package of 10 legal acts establishes a common European asylum system and includes a solidarity mechanism under which member states may choose to accept migrants, make financial contributions, or provide operational support.

Poland has been exempted from that mechanism, partly in recognition of the refugees it has taken in from Ukraine.

(ał)

Source: PAP, demagog.org.pl