The UK is now facing a legal challenge over its decision to deport asylum seekers to Bulgaria. Human rights lawyers say migrants sent there face abuse and poor conditions, which could break European human rights laws. The case has raised serious concerns about whether Bulgaria is a safe country for return.
Since July 2024, when the Labour government came into power, more than 24,000 people have been returned from the UK, including over 200 to Bulgaria. The UK has agreements with several countries, including Bulgaria, to send people back if there is proof they entered that country first.
But some legal experts warn that these returns could break Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights. This law protects people from torture and inhumane or degrading treatment. Groups helping refugees say many deported asylum seekers face dangerous conditions in Bulgaria.
In December 2024, reports showed Bulgaria was pushing Syrian asylum seekers to sign “voluntary return” papers, often using pressure or violence. A young Syrian woman deported from Germany said she was threatened with 18 months in jail if she refused to return to Syria. A man deported from the UK said Bulgarian police beat him and broke his nose.
A UK law firm, Duncan Lewis Solicitors, is now representing Syrian refugees fighting their deportation. Lawyer George Sheldon Grun said many Syrians in Bulgaria are treated badly and live in very poor conditions. He said the UK government claims Bulgaria is safe, but the reality is very different.
The European Council on Refugees and Exiles reported in March 2025 that many refugee camps in Bulgaria were in terrible condition. Their update mentioned serious issues like bugs, dirty bathrooms, a lack of hot water, and not enough food or basic services. These problems were said to fall below minimum standards.
The group No Name Kitchen also found that out of 21 people sent back to Bulgaria, 17 were Syrians. Most of them were then pressured into going back to their home countries. The group’s report says Bulgaria’s asylum system is broken and fails to protect people, even though it is part of the EU.
Human rights lawyer Ana Carolina Fisher da Cunha said European countries must stop pretending that Bulgaria is safe. She said people returned to Bulgaria face high risks of torture and other inhumane treatment—not only if they return to their home country but even while staying in Europe.
A spokesperson from the UK Home Office said anyone who is in the UK without permission and already had refugee status in another safe country will be sent back. They did not respond directly to the serious claims about poor treatment in Bulgaria. The Bulgarian interior ministry was also asked to comment but has not yet replied.