In the context of the COVID - 19 pandemic, the problem of migration flows is becoming more acute and the tasks of managing them are being brought to the fore. The article provides a comparative analysis of the States management decisions during the pandemic concerning migrants, based on the goals of their migration policy. The article analyzes the criminal situation in countries at the beginning of the pandemic period, the structure of illegal actions, as well as the desire of the population to defend their interests. It is argued that institutional management decisions in achieving a balance of interests and needs of various groups of the country's population, including migrants, and the state at the macro and micro levels of social reality will help to avoid a surge in crime © The Authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2020.