EU Agrees Plan to Send Illegal Immigrants to Return Hubs Outside Bloc

Immigrants stand behind a fence after being gathered by Greek coast guard officers following their disembarkation from a cargo ship at the port of Lavrio, south of Athens, Greece, on July 10, 2025. Aris Messinis/AFP via Getty ImagesThe European Union has reached a provisional deal on new rules that would allow member states to send illegal immigrants to “return hubs” outside the bloc, as Brussels seeks to speed up deportations.In a June 1 statement, the Council of the EU said that the new rules impose obligations on third-country nationals who have no right to stay in member states to cooperate with the authorities.