UMVA has learned that the European Parliament has approved a landmark deportation law, hailed as the 'strictest ever,' aimed at swiftly removing illegal migrants and marking a significant shift away from Europe's era of open borders.
The return regulation, passed by 418 votes to 218 with 30 abstentions, will create a unified, harder framework for deporting migrants with no legal right to remain in Europe, once formally approved by the Council.
The vote sparked a charged scene inside the chamber, with supporters applauding and right-wing MEPs chanting 'send them back' – a phrase echoing the growing demand across Europe's streets, ballot boxes, and parliaments.
Left-wing lawmakers responded with chants of 'shame on you,' but for millions of Europeans, the real shame lies not in deportation, but in the fact that illegal migrants have been allowed to stay for years after being ordered to leave.
The current deportation system in the EU is farcical, with only around 20 percent of people ordered to leave actually being removed; the new law aims to change this by imposing tougher cooperation duties, expanding detention powers, and strengthening entry bans.
At the heart of the package are return hubs in non-EU countries, which would allow member states to transfer rejected asylum seekers and irregular migrants outside the bloc through agreements with third countries.
These hubs could serve as transit sites for people awaiting return to their countries of origin and hold migrants for longer periods when their home countries refuse to cooperate or when immediate removal is not possible.
Unaccompanied minors would be exempt from transfer to the hubs, but families with children could still be moved under the framework – a point that has enraged NGOs and left-globalist, pro-migration politicians.
The law would require migrants facing removal to actively cooperate with authorities, provide documents, share information, and remain available for deportation; non-cooperation could lead to detention.
Detention periods for illegal migrants awaiting removal could be extended to up to two years, with further extensions in certain cases and stronger rules for those considered security risks.
The regulation also strengthens mutual recognition of return decisions across the EU, making it easier to enforce a deportation order issued in one member state in another.
Entry bans would become tougher, rising from five years to ten years in most cases, while security-risk migrants could face even harsher exclusions.
NGOs and activists have expressed concerns about the law's provisions, but supporters argue that it is essential to locate irregular migrants and gather evidence for removal.
The law would also end the automatic suspension of deportations whenever a legal challenge is filed, with courts instead deciding case by case whether a removal order should be paused.
The European Parliament's shift to the right has led to a new dynamic, with the European People's Party joining forces with other parties to pass the measure, marking a significant change in the EU's approach to migration.
The real test will be enforcement, with voters judging the EU by the effectiveness of its deportation policies, not just by speeches, conferences, or paper reforms.
