COVID-19 IMPACTS ON IMMIGRATION DETENTION: GLOBAL RESPONSES deportations were executed seemingly uninterruptedly, especially to Ukraine and the Russian Federation7, while in other cases the procedures were prolonged8. As for foreigners placed in detention, NGO practice indicates that although protection proceedings were not hindered by the state of pandemic, and decisions were delivered in due time, return procedures were slowed down, which in some cases resulted in prolonged detention. A direct effect of the lockdown was also the severe limitation of legal aid in detention. The Polish state guarantees free legal assistance to persons seeking international protection (limited to the appeal stage). In practice only several NGOs visit those placed in detention to provide legal information and legal assistance there. Legal aid in return proceedings is not funded by the state and NGO programs in most cases are focusing on protection and humanitarian cases only. Persons at risk of statelessness who have not applied for international protection may therefore experience significant difficulties in receiving legal assistance free of charge. Their unique status and lack of dedicated legal procedures make their status vulnerable as they might be threatened by prolonged and in some cases arbitrary detention. As part of the pandemic restrictions, the Border Guards have imposed a ban on visitors to detention centres which was lifted in mid-May. Most NGOs have suspended all their visits, and the availability of legal assistance was severely undermined. It is unclear how the scarcity of legal aid may have impacted the situation of detained stateless persons but since they are one of the most vulnerable groups at risk of prolonged detention, their cases call for special attention of human rights experts and institutions. Special measures introduced by state authorities in relation to the pandemic although not directly concerning foreigners have had an undeniable impact on the situation of migrants, among which stateless persons are one of the most vulnerable groups. Limited access to legal aid, slowing down or suspending of administrative procedures and difficulties in carrying out removals have all contributed to exposing them to a heightened risk of prolonged detention. KATARZYNA PRZYBYSŁAWSKA, PHD Halina Niec Legal Aid Center 7 “Polska deportuje ludzi w czasie epidemii”, Onet Wiadomości, 12 May 2020, https://wiadomosci.onet.pl/tylko-w-onecie/uchodzcy-z-czeczenii-w-polsce-jakwyglada-sytuacja-na-granicy/c2ygjh3 8 For example in relation to China. idcoalition.org | westernsydney.edu.au/hadri 41