PREVENTION OF ILLEGAL MIGRATION BY INTERNAL AFFAIRS BODIES

The article examines the current state of prevention of illegal migration by the internal affairs bodies of the Russian Federation, taking into account the substantial reform of migration legislation and public administration mechanisms in 2024–2026. The purpose of the study is to determine the content of preventive activities of internal affairs bodies in this field, distinguish prevention from migration control and administrative and criminal coercive measures, and develop proposals for improving the prevention mechanism. The study analyzes legislation governing the legal status of foreign citizens, migration registration, crime prevention, police and operational-search activities, administrative and criminal liability, the Concept of the State Migration Policy of the Russian Federation for 2026–2030, as well as current legal research. The author substantiates the transition from a predominantly reactive response to migration violations to continuous information and analytical monitoring of a foreign citizen's legal status. An author's definition of prevention of illegal migration by internal affairs bodies is proposed. Particular attention is paid to early prevention of loss of lawful migration status, digital technologies, legal awareness of foreign citizens, receiving parties and employers, and improving performance criteria for preventive activities.