On Wednesday, the European Parliament gave its final approval to a new migration law that represents the bloc's most stringent shift in migration policy in decades. The so-called "return regulation" allows EU member states to establish deportation centres, or return hubs, outside the European Union through agreements with non-EU countries. It also permits authorities to search the homes of irregular migrants, a measure that has drawn sharp criticism from human rights groups.
Return Hubs and Home Searches
The return hubs could serve as transit facilities where migrants await deportation to their country of origin, or as longer-term holding sites where individuals may remain indefinitely without a guaranteed onward return. Only unaccompanied minors are exempt from the measure; families with children could still be transferred to these hubs. The law also includes provisions for searching a "place of residence or other relevant premises" of irregular migrants, which NGOs and civil society have compared to the controversial raids conducted by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Other provisions extend the maximum detention period for irregular migrants from six months to two years, with a possible six-month extension and no limit for those deemed a security risk. Entry bans become stricter, rising from five to ten years in most cases, with lifetime bans possible for individuals considered a security threat. The legislation also changes the appeals process: under current rules, deportations are automatically suspended during legal challenges, but the new law ends that safeguard, leaving courts to decide on a case-by-case basis.
Political Alignment and Controversy
The law was approved by 418 votes to 218, with 30 abstentions. After the result was announced, supporters applauded, while some MEPs on the right chanted "send them back" in reference to irregular migrants. Lawmakers on the left responded with chants of "shame on you." The vote highlighted the emergence of a right-leaning majority in Parliament on migration issues. The centre-right European People's Party (EPP) aligned with the right-wing European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), the far-right Patriots for Europe (PfE), and the Europe of Sovereign Nations (ESN). Several MEPs from the liberal Renew Europe group also backed the bill.
EPP leader Manfred Weber has repeatedly rejected formal cooperation with parties considered too extreme, such as the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and France's National Rally. However, the EPP sees their votes as crucial for tougher migration legislation, creating an alternative majority to the traditional centrist coalition of the EPP, Socialists and Democrats (S&D), and Renew Europe. This dynamic mirrors recent trends in other European countries, such as the anti-immigration protests in Belfast that led to violence and displacement.
“This regulation risks normalising legally questionable practices that would have been unthinkable in the EU only a few years ago,” said Ana Catarina Mendes, vice-president of the Socialists and Democrats group (S&D), in a statement.
Broader Context
The approval of this law comes amid a broader shift in EU migration policy. Earlier this year, the EU Migration Pact introduced flexible contributions rather than fines for member states refusing to accept migrants. The new return regulation goes further, giving member states more tools to enforce deportations. The law also aligns with the EU's ongoing efforts to strengthen external border controls, as seen in the EU-US trade deal negotiations that included provisions on migration cooperation.
Socialists and left-wing MEPs largely opposed the legislation, arguing that it could undermine migrants' fundamental rights. The law now awaits formal adoption by the Council of the EU before entering into force. Critics warn that the return hubs and home searches could set a dangerous precedent for human rights in Europe, while supporters argue that stronger measures are necessary to manage irregular migration effectively.
