EU States Hunt African, Asian Deportation Sites as Only 28% of Rejected Asylum Seekers Leave
Updated
Updated · EL PAÍS USA · Jun 3
EU States Hunt African, Asian Deportation Sites as Only 28% of Rejected Asylum Seekers Leave
3 articles · Updated · EL PAÍS USA · Jun 3
Summary
Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Denmark and Greece have stepped up talks with countries in Africa and Asia to host migrant deportation centers after the EU finalized its new Return Regulation.
The regulation is meant to raise removals of rejected asylum applicants from the current 28%, and officials say the legal framework for offshore centers could be ready before summer.
Cyprus, which holds the EU Council presidency, said no host country has been secured yet and key operating details remain unresolved, including detention conditions, family transfers and how long people could be held.
NGOs say the system could expose hundreds of thousands to indefinite detention and family separation, while the EU says any third country must guarantee migrants' fundamental rights.
The push reflects a broader rightward shift in EU migration policy, though past outsourcing efforts such as Italy's costly Albania facilities have so far failed.
Will the EU's new offshore deportation hubs prove a costly failure like past attempts to outsource migration control?
With deportation hubs planned for Africa, what will stop them from becoming 'legal black holes' beyond EU oversight?
Europe’s 2026 Migration Crackdown: New Deportation Rules, External “Return Hubs,” and Human Rights Backlash
Overview
In early June 2026, the European Union reached a provisional agreement on a new deportation policy that aims to set up 'return hubs' in third countries for rejected asylum seekers. This initiative, strongly pushed by countries like Germany, Austria, Greece, the Netherlands, and Denmark, has sparked intense debate. While these member states are exploring ways to implement the policy, it has drawn sharp criticism from activist groups and human rights organizations. Critics warn that the deal would give governments much broader powers to detain and deport people, risking the erosion of EU human rights protections and exposing individuals to serious dangers outside EU borders.