The regulation targets all third-country nationals who are staying in the bloc illegally
FILE PHOTO: Migrants escorted by police to Brezice refugee camp, Rigonce, Slovenia, October 23, 2015. © Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images
[RT] The
European Parliament is expected to vote this month on a proposal
streamlining the deportation of migrants who are staying in the bloc
illegally, including rejected asylum seekers, visa overstayers, and
unauthorized entrants.
The ‘Return Regulation’ amendment envisions
the creation of detention centers outside the EU where rejected asylum
seekers would be sent before being returned to their country of origin.
The law would allow EU states to transfer migrants to these centers
under bilateral agreements.
The regulation would also allow
private homes to be searched for individuals with deportation orders,
extend detention for migrants awaiting removal up to 24 months, and make
deportation orders from any member state automatically enforceable
across the bloc.
The European Parliament’s civil liberties
committee (LIBE) adopted the current version of the legislation on
Monday. The proposal now awaits a final vote in the European Parliament
later this month, before negotiations with member states on the final
text. Media reports citing EU officials say the law could be adopted by
autumn.
The legislation has strong support among center-right and right-wing
groups and member states that advocate for stricter border controls.
However, it has drawn criticism from human rights groups, legal experts,
and left-leaning politicians, who warn it lacks an independent
monitoring mechanism and could spur controversial enforcement raids
similar to recent US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions
that have sparked protests. Some warn it would also shift human rights
responsibilities to states with weaker legal systems.
The EU has
faced a migration crisis since at least 2015, driven by conflicts in the
Middle East, Africa, and Ukraine. According to Eurostat,
as of January 1, 2025, an estimated 46.7 million non-EU citizens lived
in the bloc, around 10.4% of the population. Most member states have
tightened border controls and migration policies in recent years.
The Ukraine conflict has intensified migration pressures. As of
January 31, 2026, 4.38 million people fleeing Ukraine were living in
the EU under temporary protection. Support for Ukrainian migrants has
gradually waned since 2022, and major host countries – including
Germany, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Poland – have been actively
limiting their social benefits, citing budget and housing strains.