EU accused of creating ICE-style immigration enforcement system

Rescued people look out from onboard a migrant search and rescue ship as it arrives in the port of Salerno, Italy, in August last year. Photograph: Louisa Gouliamaki/Reuters View image in fullscreen Rescued people look out from onboard a migrant search and rescue ship as it arrives in the port of Salerno, Italy, in August last year. Photograph: Louisa Gouliamaki/Reuters EU accused of creating ICE-style immigration enforcement system Officials say law will improve migration management by allowing more deportations of undocumented people EU politicians have promised to increase deportations of undocumented migrants, under a new law that critics say mimics elements of the Trump administration’s brutal immigration crackdown. Finalising a key element of an overhauled EU asylum and migration system, politicians have agreed a regulation that will enable national authorities to raid people’s homes to enforce deportation orders. People facing a deportation order who are deemed to be uncooperative or a flight risk could be detained for up to two years, extendable to 30 months, compared with the 18-month detention period under existing law. Those who refuse to comply with a deportation order could have benefits or other allowances cut. The regulation will also enable the creation of offshore return hubs, centres outside the EU where undocumented people would be held for unspecified periods, pending return to their home country. Several EU countries are in talks with countries, mostly in Africa, to create return hubs, although no agreements have been announced. The text agreed in three-way talks on Monday between the main EU institutions – the European Council, the European parliament and European Commission – will enable the search of people’s homes “or other relevant premises” and seizure of personal belongings in order to ensure compliance with a deportation order. Detention will be permitted for unaccompanied minors and families with children, “as a measure of last resort” and “for the shortest appropriate period taking into account the best interests of the child”, said a press release from the European parliament. People deemed a security risk could face a lifetime ban on entering the EU, in comparison with the current 10-year maximum ban. The EU hopes the measures will increase deportations of people denied the right to asylum, those who have overstayed their visa or have no residency rights. Currently only about 20% of people with no right to stay in the EU are successfully returned to their home countries. EU officials hailed the law as an important step in the bloc’s migration management. “With the new rules, we have more control over who can come to the EU, who can stay and who needs to leave,” said Magnus Brunner, the European commissioner for migration, who drafted the original proposals . View image in fullscreen Magnus Brunner said in a statement in Brussels on Tuesday: ‘We have more control over who can come to the EU.’ Photograph: Olivier Ho