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Platform for Undocumented Migrants (PICUM) @picumofficial.bsky.social · 5d

These calls echo warnings from over 100 civil society organisations in March, who have urged EU legislators to ensure the Directive does not punish migration itself nor solidarity.

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Platform for Undocumented Migrants (PICUM) @picumofficial.bsky.social · 5d

In their letter to the European Parliament and Council, the experts call on lawmakers to:

📌 Narrowly define the offence of “facilitation”
📌 Remove vague terms like ‘public instigation’ and ‘instrumentalisation’
📌 Introduce a binding humanitarian exemption

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Platform for Undocumented Migrants (PICUM) @picumofficial.bsky.social · 5d

They warn that the current draft “raises serious doubts as to its compatibility with international human rights obligations” and risks criminalising people migrating, and those supporting them for familial or humanitarian reasons.

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Platform for Undocumented Migrants (PICUM) @picumofficial.bsky.social · 5d

Three UN Special Rapporteurs - on trafficking in persons, human rights defenders, and the human rights of migrants - have penned a joint letter to EU lawmakers negotiating EU migrant smuggling rules (draft Facilitation Directive).

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Platform for Undocumented Migrants (PICUM) @picumofficial.bsky.social · 5d

🖊️ Not one, not two, but three UN Special Rapporteurs warn that new EU migrant smuggling rules risk criminalising migration and solidarity with migrants.

EU lawmakers must heed these calls and protect people's right to move and help others in need.

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Platform for Undocumented Migrants (PICUM) @picumofficial.bsky.social · 7d

Truly inspiring conversations on migration organised by our friends @qcea.bsky.social.

Join to hear from experts in peace, security and human rights, and learn how peacebuilding approaches can inform Europe’s migration policies and shift the narrative from fear and control to dignity and inclusion.

QCEA @qcea.bsky.social · 8d

📍 Save the date: 29 October 2025!

→ Join our new #migration, #security & #peace event!

Register here 👉 www.qcea.org/events/migra...

#QCEAMigrationEvents

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Platform for Undocumented Migrants (PICUM) @picumofficial.bsky.social · 14d

📲 Watch this space and find out more about the project on solidarityfocus.eu

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Platform for Undocumented Migrants (PICUM) @picumofficial.bsky.social · 14d

In new EU-funded project WING, we're proud and excited to be working with:

🧡 Fondazione ISMU (Italy, coordinators)

💛 @legisti.bsky.social (France)

💚 Greek Council for Refugees (Greece)

💙 @hungarianhelsinki.bsky.social (Hungary)

🩵 OXFAM Italia (Italy)

💜 Fundacja Ocalenie (Poland)

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Platform for Undocumented Migrants (PICUM) @picumofficial.bsky.social · 14d

In 2024 alone, we found that at least 142 people faced trial in the EU for helping migrants. These numbers are just the tip of the iceberg, as many cases go unreported or never make it to the public eye.

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Platform for Undocumented Migrants (PICUM) @picumofficial.bsky.social · 14d

Across Europe, migrants and human rights defenders are being increasingly criminalised, simply for crossing a border or for helping someone in need.

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Platform for Undocumented Migrants (PICUM) @picumofficial.bsky.social · 14d

🔥 Solidarity with migrants is under attack. We're launching a new project to fight this.

With WING, we're joining six European civil society organisations to map cases of criminalisation of solidarity and to train people and organisations to respond to this threat.

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Platform for Undocumented Migrants (PICUM) @picumofficial.bsky.social · 22d

Our statement comes days before the EU Council (that is, member states) will vote on a draft text setting out their position on the Regulation.

EU lawmakers must reject it and work instead on measures to foster social inclusion and the regularisation of people forced to live in legal limbo.

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Platform for Undocumented Migrants (PICUM) @picumofficial.bsky.social · 22d

...all at the expense of human dignity, community care, and democratic safeguards.

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Platform for Undocumented Migrants (PICUM) @picumofficial.bsky.social · 22d

This Regulation would:

🔒 expand immigration detention to unprecedented levels
✈️ enable deportations to countries where people have no ties
🚔 fuel racial profiling and intrusive surveillance
💰 hand lucrative contracts to private profiteers

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Platform for Undocumented Migrants (PICUM) @picumofficial.bsky.social · 22d

We're a broad coalition of international, European, national and local organisations, all united against this Regulation.

We're calling on EU leaders and lawmakers to reject the euphemistically called Returns Regulation, the EU’s flagship proposal on deportations of undocumented people.

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Platform for Undocumented Migrants (PICUM) @picumofficial.bsky.social · 22d

🔥 European civil society has come out strong against the EU "Deportation Regulation".

Together with over 200 organisations, our call is simple:
EU lawmakers must reject it.

Read the full statement: picum.org/blog/over-20...

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Platform for Undocumented Migrants (PICUM) @picumofficial.bsky.social · Aug 12

The French Constitutional Court has ruled against the extension of immigration detention in France to up to 7 months. While a good step forward, other problematic points remain. Full comment by @lacimade.org.

La Cimade @lacimade.org · Aug 11

🛑Le Conseil constitutionnel censure la mesure de prolongation de la rétention administrative jusqu'à 7 mois. Un coup d'arrêt à une dérive sécuritaire inflationniste, quand depuis 40 ans la durée d'enfermement n'a cessé d'↗️ sans aucune amélioration pour la société ->
www.lacimade.org/retention-ad...

Rétention administrative : le Conseil constitutionnel censure une dérive sécuritaire et confirme les limites de l’enfermement - La Cimade

Communiqué - La Cimade se félicite de la décision du Conseil constitutionnel du 7 août 2025 censurant les articles clés de la proposition de loi « visant à faciliter le maintien en rétention des perso...

www.lacimade.org

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Reposted by Platform for Undocumented Migrants (PICUM)

The Civil Fleet @thecivilfleet.bsky.social · Aug 8

🚨🎧 Keep your eyes on your podcast feeds, because we've got a NEW EPISODE coming SOON!

In the meantime, listen to @picumofficial.bsky.social's Silvia in episode 74, and learn how 142 people (at least!) were criminalised for acting in solidarity with people-on-the-move last year 🎧🚨

The Civil Fleet @thecivilfleet.bsky.social · Jul 26

🚨 New episode! 🎧

@picumofficial.bsky.social's Silvia tells us how the EU criminalised at least 142 people for solidarity with migrants last year, how activists were harassed & spied on, and how 91 people faced criminal charges for crossing borders

The Civil Fleet Podcast is on all podcast services

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Platform for Undocumented Migrants (PICUM) @picumofficial.bsky.social · Aug 7

In the Netherlands, police can't enter a church during service. When a family took shelter in the Kampen church to escape their deportation, people flocked to ensure the service never stops. It's now being going on for over 8 months 🥹

This is the Europe we love.

Dutch church shelters migrant family with 192-day service

Open Hof church in Kampen is providing sanctuary to a family facing deportation by using an ancient law to prevent police entering the building

observer.co.uk

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Platform for Undocumented Migrants (PICUM) @picumofficial.bsky.social · Jul 30

When Europe's focus is on "protecting borders", rights violations are bound to continue. With or without investigations.

EU Fundamental Rights ➡️ #HumanRights @fra.europa.eu · Jul 30

What has changed in investigating rights violations at EU borders?

This update from the @fra.europa.eu points to continued allegations of ill treatment & abuse but limited accountability.

Find out more: europa.eu/!qdjT8h

Soldier in camouflage uniform checking documents of a civilian at a border checkpoint with text about little progress in investigating human rights violations at EU borders.

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Platform for Undocumented Migrants (PICUM) @picumofficial.bsky.social · Jul 28

For many undocumented people, decent housing remains an illusion. In the latest issue of @feantsa.bsky.social magazine, we write about how to move forward.

Homeless in Europe Magazine Summer 2025: Migration and Asylum

FEANTSA is the European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless.

www.feantsa.org

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Reposted by Platform for Undocumented Migrants (PICUM)

The Civil Fleet @thecivilfleet.bsky.social · Jul 26

🚨 New episode! 🎧

@picumofficial.bsky.social's Silvia tells us how the EU criminalised at least 142 people for solidarity with migrants last year, how activists were harassed & spied on, and how 91 people faced criminal charges for crossing borders

The Civil Fleet Podcast is on all podcast services

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Platform for Undocumented Migrants (PICUM) @picumofficial.bsky.social · Jul 15

Immigration raids and criminalisation are not a US exclusive. We spoke to @voxeurop.bsky.social about what's happening in Europe.

In Europe just as in Trump's America, the creeping criminalisation of migration and solidarity

An obsession with security is increasingly putting both migrants and human-rights defenders on the wrong side of the law. The trend is the same in both the USA and Europe.

voxeurop.eu

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Platform for Undocumented Migrants (PICUM) @picumofficial.bsky.social · Jul 15

The next EU Anti-Racism Strategy must face the racist roots and effects of much of our migration system.

Read our full submission to the consultation on the 2026-2030 strategy: picum.org/wp-content/u...

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Platform for Undocumented Migrants (PICUM) @picumofficial.bsky.social · Jul 14

Last week, the Dutch lower chamber passed a draft law that criminalises solidarity with migrants. Today, the @volkskrant.nl takes a look at what's happening in the rest of Europe and cites our report showing at least 142 people were criminalised in 2024 alone.

Hulp bieden aan ongedocumenteerden: hoe gaan deze EU landen ermee om?

Van symboolpolitiek tot celstraf: in enkele andere Europese landen zijn wetten die hulp aan mensen zonder papieren strafbaar stellen al van kracht. Hoe pakt dat uit in de praktijk?

www.volkskrant.nl

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