EU votes to allow deportation of migrants to safe' third countries

"Under the new rules, EU states will be able to send asylum seekers to third countries they merely transited through, provided those countries are deemed to respect international standards for migrant treatment. They could also deport asylum seekers to safe third countries with which they have no prior ties, if an agreement is reached with the host state, the UK's Guardian newspaper reported."

"Rights groups warned the policy could be used to deport migrants to countries where they have no ties and can be mistreated. The new safe third country' rules are likely to force people to countries they may never have set foot in places where they have no community, do not speak the language, and face a very real risk of abuse and exploitation, said Meron Ameha Knikman, senior adviser for the International Rescue Committee."

New EU legislation permits member states to deport asylum seekers to designated 'safe' countries outside the EU, including countries migrants merely transited through or with which migrants have no prior ties. The European Parliament approved the measure with strong support from centre and far-right members, and the rules are expected to take effect in June after final approval by the 27 member governments. The law reflects a hardening of migration policy since the 2015-16 refugee influx and rising anti-immigration sentiment. Rights groups warned the measure could force people into places with no community ties, language barriers, and high risks of abuse and exploitation.

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