The European Parliament just voted in favor of the Return Directive which will make it easier to start mass-deport illegal migrants

Once passed by the Council, the new regulation will establish a common, more efficient system for deporting illegal migrants, boosting the currently very low deportation rates of around 20% of those who have had their asylum application denied and issued a deportation order.

It will introduce:

- Mandatory cooperation with obligations and penalties: Individuals subject to a return decision must actively cooperate (such as providing documents, information, and remain available) with non-cooperation leading to detention.

- Extended detention periods: Detention can last up to 30 months to prepare a deportation.

- Mutual recognition of return decisions across the EU: A deportation order from one Member State will become more easily recognized and enforced in others, preventing migrants from evading deportation by moving between EU states.

BREAKING:

The European Parliament just voted in favor of the Return Directive which will make it easier to start mass-deport illegal migrants.

Chants of “send them back echoed in the chamber after 418 MEPs voted in favor while 218 were against.

Once passed by the Council, the… https://t.co/u5JgOOI1IW

— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24)June 17, 2026