Platform for Undocumented Migrants (PICUM)
@picumofficial.bsky.social
We work for a world where everyone can enjoy their human rights, whatever their migration status. Check us out on picum.org
📰 Read our press release: picum.org/blog/return-...
December 8, 2025 at 11:44 AM
📰 Read our press release: picum.org/blog/return-...
The Council’s position goes against basic humanity and EU values. Now it is up to the European Parliament to reject this approach. Migration governance must be rooted in dignity and rights – not fear, racism, or exclusion.
December 8, 2025 at 11:44 AM
The Council’s position goes against basic humanity and EU values. Now it is up to the European Parliament to reject this approach. Migration governance must be rooted in dignity and rights – not fear, racism, or exclusion.
This so-called ‘Return Regulation’ ushers in a deportation regime that entrenches punishment, violence, and discrimination. Instead of investing in safety, protection, and inclusion, the EU is choosing policies that will push more people into danger and legal limbo.
December 8, 2025 at 11:44 AM
This so-called ‘Return Regulation’ ushers in a deportation regime that entrenches punishment, violence, and discrimination. Instead of investing in safety, protection, and inclusion, the EU is choosing policies that will push more people into danger and legal limbo.
🚨 entry bans of up to 20 years, extendable to an indefinite duration when security risks are invoked, as well as disproportionate obligations and penalties on people deemed non cooperative in the return procedure.
December 8, 2025 at 11:44 AM
🚨 entry bans of up to 20 years, extendable to an indefinite duration when security risks are invoked, as well as disproportionate obligations and penalties on people deemed non cooperative in the return procedure.
🚨 extended derogations from fundamental rights for migrants considered a risk to national security and public policy, further blurring the lines between criminal law and migration and reinforcing dangerous stereotypes.
December 8, 2025 at 11:44 AM
🚨 extended derogations from fundamental rights for migrants considered a risk to national security and public policy, further blurring the lines between criminal law and migration and reinforcing dangerous stereotypes.
🚨 possibility for member states to establish deportation centres outside the EU, leading to arbitrary detention, serious accountability and human rights monitoring challenges, risks of chain deportations among others;
December 8, 2025 at 11:44 AM
🚨 possibility for member states to establish deportation centres outside the EU, leading to arbitrary detention, serious accountability and human rights monitoring challenges, risks of chain deportations among others;
🚨 expanded grounds for detention, including absence of family ties, engaging in irregular work and insufficient means of subsistence, de facto criminalising poverty and exclusion;
December 8, 2025 at 11:44 AM
🚨 expanded grounds for detention, including absence of family ties, engaging in irregular work and insufficient means of subsistence, de facto criminalising poverty and exclusion;
🚨 a massive expansion in the use and duration of immigration detention, up to 30 months (up from the current 18 and from 24 in the Commission’s proposal), including for children;
December 8, 2025 at 11:44 AM
🚨 a massive expansion in the use and duration of immigration detention, up to 30 months (up from the current 18 and from 24 in the Commission’s proposal), including for children;
🚨 a new article which would enable police to raid private homes to enforce deportations - including potentially houses of citizens suspected of sheltering migrants, as well as offices and shelters run by humanitarian organisations;
December 8, 2025 at 11:44 AM
🚨 a new article which would enable police to raid private homes to enforce deportations - including potentially houses of citizens suspected of sheltering migrants, as well as offices and shelters run by humanitarian organisations;
The Council is expected to endorse a position that would further worsen the Commission’s original proposal. This includes:
December 8, 2025 at 11:44 AM
The Council is expected to endorse a position that would further worsen the Commission’s original proposal. This includes:
On 8th December, the Council is expected to vote on its negotiating position on the draft Return Regulation, the EU’s flagship initiative to escalate immigration detention and deportations of undocumented people, including to countries outside the EU.
December 8, 2025 at 11:44 AM
On 8th December, the Council is expected to vote on its negotiating position on the draft Return Regulation, the EU’s flagship initiative to escalate immigration detention and deportations of undocumented people, including to countries outside the EU.
Despite these challenges, one conclusion is clear: Regularisation works. It changes lives, strengthens communities, and benefits society as a whole.
December 1, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Despite these challenges, one conclusion is clear: Regularisation works. It changes lives, strengthens communities, and benefits society as a whole.
Gains can be short-lived if people cannot access secure, long-term residence status. Regularisation measures must be inclusive and fair, and they must lead towards secure status to truly harness its compounding benefits.
December 1, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Gains can be short-lived if people cannot access secure, long-term residence status. Regularisation measures must be inclusive and fair, and they must lead towards secure status to truly harness its compounding benefits.
Our research also highlights important limitations and gaps. Most existing studies focus on time-limited programmes, making it harder to fully understand the impacts of ongoing mechanisms. High fees or burdensome procedures can also undermine outcomes by pushing people into debt or insecurity.
December 1, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Our research also highlights important limitations and gaps. Most existing studies focus on time-limited programmes, making it harder to fully understand the impacts of ongoing mechanisms. High fees or burdensome procedures can also undermine outcomes by pushing people into debt or insecurity.
✔️ Improvements in wellbeing and mental health
✔️ Better working conditions
✔️ Stronger family and community stability
✔️ Tangible benefits for governments through increased contributions
✔️ Even unexpected gains, like higher birthweights among children born after their parents’ regularisation
✔️ Better working conditions
✔️ Stronger family and community stability
✔️ Tangible benefits for governments through increased contributions
✔️ Even unexpected gains, like higher birthweights among children born after their parents’ regularisation
December 1, 2025 at 11:46 AM
✔️ Improvements in wellbeing and mental health
✔️ Better working conditions
✔️ Stronger family and community stability
✔️ Tangible benefits for governments through increased contributions
✔️ Even unexpected gains, like higher birthweights among children born after their parents’ regularisation
✔️ Better working conditions
✔️ Stronger family and community stability
✔️ Tangible benefits for governments through increased contributions
✔️ Even unexpected gains, like higher birthweights among children born after their parents’ regularisation
These are the questions at the heart of our new report on the impact of regularisation, drawing on over 5 decades of research from Europe and the Americas.
We found that regularisation has profound and wide-ranging positive impacts - some expected, others surprisingly far-reaching. They include:
We found that regularisation has profound and wide-ranging positive impacts - some expected, others surprisingly far-reaching. They include:
December 1, 2025 at 11:46 AM
These are the questions at the heart of our new report on the impact of regularisation, drawing on over 5 decades of research from Europe and the Americas.
We found that regularisation has profound and wide-ranging positive impacts - some expected, others surprisingly far-reaching. They include:
We found that regularisation has profound and wide-ranging positive impacts - some expected, others surprisingly far-reaching. They include:
What changes when someone finally secures a residence permit?
Do they find safer jobs? Does their housing improve?
How are their children affected?
And what does this mean for our societies, economies, and governments?
Do they find safer jobs? Does their housing improve?
How are their children affected?
And what does this mean for our societies, economies, and governments?
December 1, 2025 at 11:46 AM
What changes when someone finally secures a residence permit?
Do they find safer jobs? Does their housing improve?
How are their children affected?
And what does this mean for our societies, economies, and governments?
Do they find safer jobs? Does their housing improve?
How are their children affected?
And what does this mean for our societies, economies, and governments?
Read our press release: picum.org/blog/migrant...
Migrant Smuggling Laws: European Commission found in breach of transparency rules - PICUM
The European Ombudsperson has found the European Commission bypassed key transparency rules (Better Regulation guidelines) when preparing legislation to counter migrant smuggling (Facilitation Directi...
picum.org
November 27, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Read our press release: picum.org/blog/migrant...
The Ombudsperson urges the Commission to ensure transparent, evidence-based, and inclusive lawmaking, even for urgent proposals.
November 27, 2025 at 1:32 PM
The Ombudsperson urges the Commission to ensure transparent, evidence-based, and inclusive lawmaking, even for urgent proposals.
The proposed Facilitation Directive risks worsening the criminalisation of migrants and those who assist them, while the Europol Regulation would expand surveillance powers with minimal oversight.
November 27, 2025 at 1:32 PM
The proposed Facilitation Directive risks worsening the criminalisation of migrants and those who assist them, while the Europol Regulation would expand surveillance powers with minimal oversight.
By claiming “urgency,” the Commission skipped essential Better Regulation requirements - including public consultations and proper impact assessments - despite clear human rights risks.
November 27, 2025 at 1:32 PM
By claiming “urgency,” the Commission skipped essential Better Regulation requirements - including public consultations and proper impact assessments - despite clear human rights risks.
Following a complaint by PICUM and European Digital Rights, the European Ombudsperson has found that the European Commission breached its own transparency rules while drafting laws on migrant smuggling.
November 27, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Following a complaint by PICUM and European Digital Rights, the European Ombudsperson has found that the European Commission breached its own transparency rules while drafting laws on migrant smuggling.