DETENTION AND RETURNS Around 1,000 undocumented people detained after anti-trafficking operation in Serbia As a part of international anti-trafficking operation “Hotspot”, the Serbian police arrested and detained around a thousand undocumented migrants across different cities in Serbia, including Belgrade. The migrants were reportedly transferred to reception centres in the country. Along the so-called Balkan route, Serbia is regularly crossed by migrants who attempt to reach Western Europe in the absence of alternative and viable regular options. New report on access to legal aid for migrants in return procedures A recent report on legal assistance for migrants during return proceedings from the EU Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) finds several restrictions and shortcomings in the provision of free legal aid in pre-removal detention. Key issues include language barriers, access to information, strict deadlines and complying with strict legal requirements. The FRA calls on Member States to address such shortcomings, and to provide access to national and international detention-monitoring bodies so they can regularly assess the use and effectiveness of free legal aid for returnees.