European lawmakers have approved a new plan that will make it easier for countries in the European Union to send rejected asylum seekers to detention centres outside the bloc, a move that is already raising strong debate over migration policies and human rights.
The decision was taken in the European Parliament in Brussels, where lawmakers voted 389 to 206 in favour of the proposal, with 32 abstentions. The measure passed with support from right-wing and far-right groups, while most left-leaning and centrist lawmakers voted against it.
Under the new plan, EU countries can now negotiate individually or in smaller groups to send migrants whose asylum applications have been rejected to “return hubs” outside Europe. These centres, which are yet to be built, would hold migrants before they are eventually deported to their home countries.
Several countries, including Greece, Germany, Netherlands, Austria and Denmark, have already started discussions with mainly African nations to host these facilities.
Supporters of the plan believe it will help reduce irregular migration and make deportation systems more effective. Some far-right political groups have also praised the stricter approach, pointing to policies introduced by Donald Trump in the United States as an example they would like Europe to follow.
Political movements such as Vlaams Belang in Belgium and Alternative for Germany in Germany have even proposed forming special police units focused on tracking and deporting migrants.
However, the plan has faced strong criticism from human rights organizations. Critics argue that sending migrants to centres outside the EU could weaken legal protections and expose them to abuse. Reports of illegal pushbacks and mistreatment at EU borders have already raised concerns about how migrants are being treated.
Opponents warn that these “return hubs” could operate with limited oversight, making it harder to ensure that migrants’ rights are respected. They also fear the policy could further tighten Europe’s migration system at a time when debates over asylum and border control continue to divide the region.