EU adopts return regulation permitting home raids for deportations, sparking rights concerns

EU interior ministers gathered in Luxembourg on 1 October to adopt a return regulation that creates a legal framework for police raids on private homes and other premises. The regulation permits officers to seize belongings, electronic devices and any items considered relevant to preparing or ensuring an effective return of individuals, including failed asylum seekers. It forms part of a broader effort to deport people to their countries of origin or to undefined transit centres, with Rwanda cited as a possible destination.

Civil-rights organisations have condemned the rule, drawing parallels with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s controversial practices. Belgium is reportedly racing to apply the regulation, heightening concerns about its impact on residents’ privacy and safety. Although the measure appears as a footnote on the agenda, its potential to expand state power over private dwellings has generated significant alarm.