BREAKING: European Parliament backs tougher deportation rules for illegal migrants

Europe-Asia

STRASBOURG, France (NPA) — The European Parliament has voted in favour of a sweeping overhaul of the European Union’s migration return system, backing new measures aimed at increasing the deportation of illegal migrants whose asylum applications have been rejected.

The proposed legislation, known as the Return Directive, was approved by 418 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), while 218 voted against it.

The reform seeks to address the EU’s low deportation rate, with officials estimating that only about 20 per cent of migrants issued return orders are currently removed from the bloc.

Under the proposed rules, migrants subject to deportation orders will be required to actively cooperate with authorities by providing identification documents, relevant information, and remaining available throughout the return process.

Failure to cooperate could result in detention and other enforcement measures.

One of the most significant provisions of the legislation allows detention periods of up to 30 months in cases where authorities require additional time to facilitate deportation procedures.

The directive also introduces the mutual recognition of return decisions across EU member states, enabling deportation orders issued in one country to be enforced more easily throughout the bloc.

Supporters say the measure will prevent individuals from avoiding deportation by moving from one EU country to another after receiving a return order.

The legislation further provides for the establishment of so-called “return hubs” in third countries through agreements that comply with international human rights obligations.

Under the arrangement, migrants awaiting deportation could be transferred to designated non-EU countries before being returned to their countries of origin.

The proposal also shortens voluntary departure periods, allowing authorities to accelerate removals in cases involving non-compliance or security concerns.

Additional provisions grant law enforcement agencies broader investigative powers, including searches and seizures aimed at obtaining evidence necessary for deportation proceedings.

The directive also provides for longer re-entry bans of up to 10 years and imposes stricter restrictions on individuals classified as security threats who attempt to re-enter the European Union after deportation.

The legislation must still be approved by the Council of the European Union before it can enter into force.

Supporters of the reform argue that the measures are necessary to restore public confidence in the EU’s migration system and ensure that immigration rules are effectively enforced.

Among those welcoming the vote was Swedish MEP Charlie Weimers, Vice Chair of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group, who described the outcome as a major step toward tougher migration enforcement across Europe.

“Mass deportations from Europe will soon become reality,” Weimers said following the vote.

The proposal has, however, drawn criticism from some lawmakers, migrant rights advocates, and humanitarian organisations, who argue that extended detention periods and third-country return arrangements could raise legal and human rights concerns.

Migration remains one of the most contentious political issues within the European Union, with member states divided over how best to manage irregular migration, asylum applications, border security, and migrant integration.

If adopted by the Council, the revised Return Directive would represent one of the most significant changes to the EU’s migration enforcement framework in recent years, potentially reshaping how member states handle deportations and illegal migration across the bloc.