Overview
- The European Parliament voted 418–218 on June 18, 2026 to approve a regulation that broadens member states’ power to deport non‑EU nationals and now sends the text to national governments for final approval.
- The package authorises immigration authorities to detain some migrants for up to two years, conduct searches of residences and other sites, and seize belongings to enforce expulsion orders.
- The law establishes a legal basis for so‑called return centres outside EU territory where people could be held pending repatriation, a move several governments are already negotiating with third countries to make operational in 2026–2027.
- Humanitarian groups and left‑wing MEPs warn the measures risk normalising aggressive enforcement—including warrantless entry into homes and public institutions—and say the text could enable medical data sharing that deters migrants from seeking care.
- The vote reflects a decade‑long shift toward securer migration policy in Europe and could reshape enforcement and asylum practice if national governments ratify the text and member states proceed with bilateral hosting deals.