BORDERS
European Parliament votes on EU Migration Pact
The European Parliament’s civil liberties committee voted on key proposals of the EU Migration Pact, that would increase detention and speed up deportations against people coming to Europe via irregular routes. Under these proposals, children above 12 could be detained at borders in some circumstances. People will only have seven working days to appeal deportation decisions, and they could be deported while waiting for the outcome of their appeal. Read more on our Twitter.
UK: government tables hard-line immigration bill
On 7 March, the UK government introduced a draft bill (“Illegal Migration Bill”) that would make it easier to detain and deport people coming to the UK by boat, including when they seek asylum. The bill would also allow for an annual cap on the number of admitted asylum-seekers. The bill has sparked widespread criticism from civil society organisations and political opposition, and protests across the country. The parliamentary human rights committee opened a call for evidence on potential human rights abuses, and requested the Home Secretary appear before the Committee.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron struck a deal to cooperate on border control in the Channel, that would see the UK help fund an immigration detention centre in northern France.
European Commission urges member states to step up border surveillance and returns
On 14 March, the European Commission presented the strategic framework for European integrated border management for the next five years, which aims at stepping up the use of surveillance technologies and information systems to control borders. The Commission also adopted a recommendation that urges member states to strengthen the mutual recognition of return decisions to expedite returns, and to establish closer links between authorities managing asylum and returns. PICUM had previously highlighted why this approach is problematic in this briefing.
BORDERS
European Parliament votes on EU Migration Pact
The European Parliament’s civil liberties committee voted on key proposals of the EU Migration Pact, that would increase detention and speed up deportations against people coming to Europe via irregular routes. Under these proposals, children above 12 could be detained at borders in some circumstances. People will only have seven working days to appeal deportation decisions, and they could be deported while waiting for the outcome of their appeal. Read more on our Twitter.
UK: government tables hard-line immigration bill
On 7 March, the UK government introduced a draft bill (“Illegal Migration Bill”) that would make it easier to detain and deport people coming to the UK by boat, including when they seek asylum. The bill would also allow for an annual cap on the number of admitted asylum-seekers. The bill has sparked widespread criticism from civil society organisations and political opposition, and protests across the country. The parliamentary human rights committee opened a call for evidence on potential human rights abuses, and requested the Home Secretary appear before the Committee.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron struck a deal to cooperate on border control in the Channel, that would see the UK help fund an immigration detention centre in northern France.
European Commission urges member states to step up border surveillance and returns
On 14 March, the European Commission presented the strategic framework for European integrated border management for the next five years, which aims at stepping up the use of surveillance technologies and information systems to control borders. The Commission also adopted a recommendation that urges member states to strengthen the mutual recognition of return decisions to expedite returns, and to establish closer links between authorities managing asylum and returns. PICUM had previously highlighted why this approach is problematic in this briefing.