Migri issued 136 deportation decisions based on criminal grounds. Photo: Emmi Korhonen / Lehtikuva
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New figures from the Finnish Immigration Service show that Estonia leads the nationality breakdown of foreign nationals ordered to leave Finland due to criminal convictions this year.
Between January and July 2025, Migri issued 136 deportation decisions based on criminal grounds. Of these, 23 involved Estonian citizens, the highest of any nationality.
Iraq and Russia followed, with 18 deportation decisions each. Other nationalities in the top group included Albania, Iran, Somalia, Afghanistan, and Romania.
The statistics also show that men overwhelmingly comprised the deported group, with 128 male cases compared to 8 female cases.
In terms of age, most deportation decisions affected individuals between 18 and 64. Migri issued 73 decisions concerning people aged 18–34 and 63 for those aged 35–64.
Out of the 136 cases, 89 led to deportation, 33 resulted in no action, and 14 were dismissed.
Milan Jaff, a convicted gang figure associated with the so-called Kurdish Mafia, is among those set to be removed. Migri has ordered his deportation to Iraq following convictions for attempted murder, aggravated robbery, and rape.
Finnish authorities also revoked his residence permit and subsidiary protection status. Jaff is banned from entering any Schengen Area country or EU member state.
Migri cited both the severity of his crimes and the improved security situation in parts of Iraq as reasons for denying protection.
According to Iltalehti, Jaff has appealed the decision to the Helsinki Administrative Court. Police are holding him in a closed detention facility in Joutseno to prevent escape before deportation.
Finland’s deportation figures align with a broader EU trend.
Eurostat data shows that in Q1 2025, 123,905 third-country nationals were ordered to leave the EU. That figure marked an 18.4 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024.
Despite the number of orders, only 28,475 people were effectively returned to a third country.
France, Germany, and Spain issued the highest number of removal orders. France alone reported 34,545 in Q1.
Among EU-wide returns to third countries, Georgian citizens made up the largest group, followed by Syrians, Albanians, Turks, and Moroccans.
While over half of returns in the EU were carried out voluntarily, countries like Germany and Romania conducted only enforced returns.
Detention of deportable persons remains an administrative measure in Finland. The country operates two immigration detention units, in Helsinki and Joutseno.
People held there are not allowed to leave the premises but may move freely within the facilities and communicate externally.
The Finnish police and Border Guard enforce deportations. Migri handles the administrative process and issues the legal decisions.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
