Majority of MEPs Back High-Profile Migrant Return Law

A new sweeping migration law was approved by a comfortable majority of European Parliament deputies on Thursday in a bid to accelerate deportations of irregular migrants, viewed as a significant shift toward stricter migration-related policies across Europe.

The final version of the law will now be negotiated between the European Parliament and EU member states, though major disagreements are not expected.

The legislation, known as the “Return Regulation,” passed with 389 votes in favor, compared to 206 against. Thirty-two MEPs abstained. The law would introduce measures aimed at increasing deportation rates, including allowing EU member-states to establish deportation centers—so-called “return hubs”—in non-EU countries.

Under the new rules, non-EU nationals could be sent to third countries with which the EU has agreements, even if the latter are not their homeland.

Key provisions include extending the maximum detention period for non-EU nationals awaiting deportation to up to 24 months and imposing long-term or potentially unlimited entry bans on those repatriated, particularly in cases involving security risks.

The proposal also seeks to change current appeal procedures, giving courts discretion over whether deportations should be paused during legal challenges, rather than applying an automatic suspension.

FILE PHOTO: Migrants board a bus in the port of Agia Galini, Crete, Greece on July 6, 2025, after the Greek coast guard picked up hundreds of third country nationals off the islands of Gavdos and Crete in separate incidents, according to the former.  REUTERS/Stefanos Rapanis

The initiative reflects growing political momentum in various European countries to stiffen responses to irregular immigration. Thursday’s development was also noteworthy for the fact that center-right European lawmakers “crossed” a previously “forbidden” threshold to cooperate with far-right groupings and MEPs in order to pass the legislation.

Supporters argue the law is essential to enforce migration rules more effectively. Critics, however, warn it undermines EU values and could lead to human rights concerns, particularly regarding returns to unstable or unsafe countries.