European Parliament Adopts Directive on Return of Illegal Immigrants

On June 18, 2008, the European Parliament adopted by a 369 to 197 vote a directive to set forth EU-wide rules and procedures on the return of illegal immigrants. It covers periods of custody as well as re-entry bans and has a number of legal safeguards. EU Member must not apply harsher rules to illegal immigrants but can maintain or adopt more generous rules. The EU legislation applies only after the national authorities take a decision to deport an illegal immigrant Each EU Member retinas the power to decide in the first place whether it wants to regularize or deport the immigrant...[more]