Illegal Migration Poses a Threat to Russia’s National Security and National Identity

The paper examines the negative social phenomenon of illegal migration in the context of public law, not only as a threat to national security but also as a threat to the national identity of Russian society. Given the complex nature of migration, the effectiveness of the state, its policies, and the legal regulation of migration relations, particularly in terms of counteracting illegal migration, assumes significant im portance. The study elucidates the challenges and risks that illegal migration entails direct and negative consequences of illegal migration for various spheres of life and the interests of Russian society and the state. The author evaluates the effectiveness of measures implemented in practice and proposed by researchers to combat illegal migration. The analysis concludes with an assessment of additional potential measures, including deportation, administrative expulsion, and readmission. In light of the magnitude and urgency of the issue, the author justifies the necessity of adopting a comprehensive system of measures to counter illegal migration, where the Russian state confronts not merely migrants but a global network of criminal organizations equipped with substantial financial resources and enjoying significant protection with in Russia, as well as foreign entities seeking to weaken, destabilize, and dismantle Russia. The paper proposes not only countermeasures but also a revision of the approach to migration in light of the negative experiences associated with the migration policies of the European Union. Specifically, migration cannot serve as a solution to the demo graphic crisis, as the risks outweigh the potential benefits. Addressing demographic challenges should not lead to alterations in the national identity of Russia; on the contrary, the established national identity of the multiethnic Russian nation must be regarded as an object of state protection, at least to the same extent as national security.