The European Parliament has passed a law by majority vote that significantly tightens the process of deporting undocumented migrants from the European Union and allows for the establishment of so-called “return hubs” outside the EU’s borders.
The plan, which passed with the support of center-right and far-right factions, permits member states to cooperate with non-EU governments to set up temporary or long-term detention centers for migrants awaiting repatriation to their countries of origin. Critics have described the measure as one of the most drastic shifts in European immigration policy in recent decades.
Under the new law, the maximum detention period for migrants awaiting deportation will be extended from six months to up to two years, with options for further extensions in certain cases. Additionally, re-entry bans into European nations have been made stricter, with penalties that can span up to ten years or even apply for life.
The regulation also alters judicial procedures; a migrant’s legal appeal will no longer automatically halt the execution of a deportation order. Instead, courts will decide whether to suspend or execute the order on a case-by-case basis.
Proponents of the bill argue that its goal is to boost the efficiency of the immigration system and prevent individuals without residence permits from remaining indefinitely in the European Union. Conversely, opponents have warned that the law could undermine the fundamental rights of migrants and lead to the normalization of prolonged detention.
