“Secret” Emigration Across the Western Border of the Russian Empire in the Late 19thand Early 20thCenturies: Motives, Mechanisms, and Government Resistance

The paper focuses on the problem of illegal emigration across the western border of the Russian Empire, using the materials from two archival funds of the Warsaw Governor-General, which are housed in the Archiwum Główne Akt Dawnych in Warsaw. Due to various reasons, it is impossible to determine the exact number of illegal immigrants among the total number of people crossing the border. Organized criminal groups had an extensive network of agents engaged in the search for clients and guides who directly ensured border crossings. Foreign transport companies that earned money by sending emigrants to America were also involved in the implementation of illegal business. The authorities of the Russian Empire took measures to strengthen the protection of the western border and to suppress various types of illegal activities. Corruption of the officials, from the lower ranks of the border guard to the county authorities, posed severe challenges to the work of the state apparatus. Nevertheless, despite the rigid nature of the existing legislation, local authorities reacted quite quickly to new methods of illegal border crossing. Judgments on specific cases became precedent in the shortest possible time due to circular orders sent to the places even prior receiving instructions and explanations from the capital authorities.