Finland closes the 1,340-kilometre Eastern land border last year after more than 1,300 people sought asylum, crossing Russian territory to Finland (Photo: Le Monde)

The law is valid for one year and was approved by 167 Finnish lawmakers – the minimum needed for it to pass in the 200-seat Finnish parliament. The law would allow Finnish border guards to reject migrant asylum applications at crossing points under certain circumstances. However, they will not allegedly refuse entry to children, disabled people and any migrants deemed by border guards to be in a particularly vulnerable position.

Finland’s Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said the law was needed to prevent migrants in the future, adding this law is the preparation for the risk of deliberate migration that Finland might face in the future. He said he hopes that Finland will never have to use this law.

Finland closed the 1,340-kilometer Eastern land border last year and banned the transport of goods from several Russian ports after more than 1,300 people sought asylum, mainly from Africa and Middle East, crossing Russian territory to this country for three months.

The law has been received with controversy – as opponents, including academics, legal experts and human rights groups, say it clashes with the Constitution of Finland, international rights commitments set out by the United Nations and pledges by the EU and signed by Finland.