EU to establish 'return hubs' for irregular migrants in push for tough new policy

The European Union is advancing a stringent new immigration policy designed to streamline the deportation of irregular migrants through "return hubs" established in third countries. This initiative marks a significant departure from previous practices, which mandated the return of migrants solely to their countries of origin or proven affiliation.

The new policy, agreed upon by EU Council and European Parliament negotiators, aims to accelerate deportation procedures and boost return numbers. If formally approved by the EU Parliament and its 27 member states, the new "Return Directive" could take effect as early as next month. European news outlets, including Euronews, have described it as the EU's toughest immigration policy in decades.

The core of the new strategy involves setting up deportation facilities, dubbed "return hubs," outside the EU. Under this framework, EU member states will be able to deport migrants whose asylum applications have been rejected to these third countries. This approach is seen as aligning with a broader trend of increasingly strict immigration policies across Europe, reminiscent of the approach taken by the former U.S. administration under Donald Trump.