"Seeing the situation and threats posed by the Belarusian regime organizing such things on the Polish border, and realizing that we may face similar threats, too, and seeing the clear parallels between what is happening on the border and at our places of accommodation of irregular migrants, we will certainly do and are doing our utmost to defend and protect our borders," Interior Minister Agne Bilotaite said during the Cabinet's online meeting on Tuesday.
There are "clear grounds for declaring a state of emergency", she added.
The proposal comes as hundreds of migrants have amassed on the Belarusian side of the border with Poland. On Monday, they attempted to force their way across the border but were repelled by Polish troops.
The state of emergency would be in place along the border stretch and five kilometers inland, as well as in the migrant accommodation facilities in Kybartai, Medininkai, Pabrade, Rukla and Vilnius
The measure would include restricting the right of irregular migrants accommodated in Lithuania to communicate in writing or by telephone, etc., except to contact the country's authorities.
Declaring the state of emergency would also allow using the state's reserve funds to deal with the threat to public order caused by the massive influx of foreigners.
Among other things, reinforced controls would remain in place on the Lithuanian side of the border. The movement of vehicles into and within the area under the state of emergency would be restricted.
The authorities would be authorized to stop and check vehicles and persons for illegal weapons, ammunition, explosives and other dangerous substances, and detain offenders.
The state of emergency would allow "restrictions on movement along the border, plus five kilometers, restrictions on assembly, restrictions on communication in migrant accommodation centers and, of course, greater involvement of the Armed Forces", Bilotaite said.
"We believe that this decision is proportionate to the situation today," she added.
President Gitanas Nauseda is meeting with and Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the government's proposal to declare a state of emergency, which has yet to be approved by the parliament.
Over 4,200 irregular migrants have crossed into Lithuania from Belarus illegally so far this year, but another 6,000 have been turned away after border guards changed tactics in August.
Vilnius accuses the Minsk regime of orchestrating the unprecedented migration influx, calling it "hybrid aggression".