EU Approves Deportation Hubs for Rejected Asylum Seekers

The European Union approved sweeping new powers on Thursday to deport rejected asylum seekers to return hubs in third countries, primarily in Africa, marking a significant escalation in the bloc's migration enforcement efforts. The European Parliament voted 389 to 206 in favor of the Return Regulation, part of the broader Pact on Migration and Asylum set to take effect on June 12.

The legislation allows EU member states to establish offshore detention and processing facilities outside the bloc's territory, where rejected asylum seekers can be held pending removal to their countries of origin or other accepting states. Deportation orders issued by one member state will now be enforceable across all 27 nations, closing previous loopholes that enabled migrants to relocate within the EU to avoid expulsion. Under the rules, migrants can be detained for up to two years, monitored via electronic tagging, and face indefinite detention if return is not immediately possible. Member states may also impose entry bans and conduct enhanced surveillance, including raids and profiling, to facilitate removals.

An informal coalition of countries, including Germany, Austria, the Netherlands,...