The European Union took a significant step toward adopting a Trump-like [10] approach to migration when the EuroParliament approved [11] a new law March 26 expanding the power of security agencies to track, detain and deport migrants. Amnesty International criticized [12] the revised "Return Regulation [13]" as "punitive" and a threat to fundamental rights. The law also allows for people to be deported to countries other than their country of origin—a controversial policy [14] used by the Trump administration [15]. Greece, an EU member, is even working directly [16] with US officials to ramp up deportations.
In related news, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said last week [18] that he and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa hope to see 80% of Syrian refugees in Germany return to Syria in the coming few years. Merz's call for Syrians to "go back to their homeland," which came after his meeting with al-Sharaa in Berlin, drew condemnation [19] from human rights groups who pointed to continued insecurity in Syria. (TNH [20], Jurist [21])
