🏛️⚖️ Rights groups oppose EU deportation regulation amid health and civil rights concerns
Oneliner
Over 70 organizations have called for the suspension of the EU's Return Regulation, which aims to strengthen deportations of irregular migrants. Critics warn that the proposal could normalize ICE-style raids and racial profiling, while health experts express concern that it may deter vulnerable populations from seeking medical care. The European Parliament's Civil Liberties Committee is set to vote on the regulation in early March, amid widespread opposition from rights groups and health advocates.
Key points
- Over 70 organizations demand suspension of the EU's Return Regulation proposal.
- The regulation could normalize ICE-style raids and racial profiling across Europe.
- Health experts warn that the proposal may deter vulnerable populations from seeking medical care.
- The European Parliament's Civil Liberties Committee is set to vote on the regulation in early March.
Links
- Público: Más de 70 organizaciones exigen suspender el reglamento de deportación de migrantes de la UE
- La Libre: Pres de 70 organisations demandent le rejet du nouveau règlement UE sur les expulsions : "Les rafles d'immigrés ne sont pas une nouveauté en Europe"
- The Guardian: EU's deportations plan risks ICE-style enforcement, rights groups warn
- RTBF: Immigration en Europe : près de 70 organisations demandent le rejet du nouveau règlement sur les expulsions - RTBF Actus
- Público: Más de 70 organizaciones exigen suspender el reglamento de deportación de migrantes de la UE
- Handelsblatt: Migrationspolitik: Dobrindt verlängert Grenzkontrollen bis mindestens September
Facts
- The Return Regulation was formally presented in March 2025 as part of the European Pact on Migration and Asylum.
- The European Parliament's Civil Liberties Committee (LIBE) will vote on the regulation in early March 2026.
- The proposed regulation includes a list of safe countries of origin, such as Bangladesh and Colombia.
- Over 70 organizations, including PICUM and Médecins du Monde, have opposed the regulation.
Quotes
- We cannot be outraged by ICE in the United States while supporting these practices in Europe — Michele LeVoy, PICUM Director
- This situation is unacceptable and can also lead to serious public health problems — Andrea Soler Eslava, Médecins du Monde
Justification
- We reviewed 6 verified sources to assemble this distillation.
- Our relevance model assessed the public-interest weight of this topic at 4.00.
- AI narrative synopsis: Includes the European Commission's Return/expulsion regulation proposal (part of the Migration and Asylum Pact), objections from PICUM, Médecins du Monde and ~70–75 NGOs, concerns about ICE-style raids, racial profiling, offshore detention centres, and an imminent LIBE committee vote.
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Score
- Classification: critical for public life (anchored in EU/European institutions).
- Freshness: 100%.
- Novelty: 100%.
- Density: 50%.
- Weighted salience: 80%.
- Lifecycle stage: committee stage.
- Why it matters: High importance and freshness; lower density with 6 articles.
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Article
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More than 70 pro-immigration organizations have called on European Union (EU) institutions to suspend consideration of the Return Regulation, a proposal aimed at strengthening the deportation of migrants in irregular situations. Formally presented in March 2025, this initiative is part of the European Pact on Migration and Asylum, which seeks to harmonize return procedures and reduce irregular stays in the EU through common rules on identification, detention, and deportation.
Why it matters
The joint statement, led by the NGO PICUM and Médecins du Monde, warns that the new EU rules could expand immigration raids in public and private spaces, reinforce surveillance technologies, and compel public services to cooperate with law enforcement. Michele LeVoy, director of PICUM, stated, "Immigration raids are not new in Europe, but this regulation will expand and normalize racial profiling, surveillance in public services, and operations similar to those of ICE in the United States."
What changed
The European Parliament's Civil Liberties Committee (LIBE) is scheduled to vote on the draft regulation in early March 2026. The proposed changes would allow member states to send migrants to offshore centers without requiring a connection to the third country. Additionally, a list of safe countries of origin has been approved, including Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, Kosovo, India, Morocco, and Tunisia.
Health implications
Health experts have raised alarms about the potential public health risks associated with the regulation. Andrea Soler Eslava from Médecins du Monde emphasized that laws focused on identifying and deporting individuals based on migration status could deter vulnerable populations, such as pregnant women and children, from seeking essential medical services. This could lead to serious public health issues, as individuals may avoid care even in emergencies.
Broader concerns
The proposed regulation has drawn criticism for potentially normalizing punitive immigration enforcement measures. A joint statement from 75 rights organizations highlighted that the plans could lead to home raids and increased surveillance, echoing practices seen in the United States. The statement warned that these measures would consolidate a punitive system fueled by far-right rhetoric, which could exacerbate racial profiling and discrimination.
Next steps
As the LIBE committee prepares for its vote, the implications of the Return Regulation remain a focal point of concern for human rights advocates. The UN has also expressed worries that the proposed regulation may contravene international human rights obligations, particularly regarding the treatment of migrants. The upcoming vote will be crucial in determining the future of this controversial proposal and its potential impact on civil liberties and public health across Europe.