In 2024, over 120,000 cases of illegal migrant deportation were recorded at the European Union’s external borders, according to a new report from nine human rights organizations.
Research based on data from government agencies, NGOs, and research groups revealed that at least 120,457 deportations took place in 2024, where migrants were expelled without the opportunity to apply for international protection. These deportations were often accompanied by violence — border guards beat migrants, threw them into the sea, or left them to die from cold.
Bulgaria led in the number of deportations, with 52,534 cases of migrants being expelled to Turkey.
The top five also includes Greece (14,482), Poland (13,600), Hungary (5,713), and Latvia (5,388). In addition, Libya and Lebanon, which also actively participate in migrant interceptions, recorded 21,762 and 3,768 deportations, respectively.
The report also mentions EU actions, including Ursula von der Leyen’s visit to Lebanon, where she announced aid to combat illegal migration. Border checkpoints remain a source of ongoing disputes in Europe, particularly after the migration crisis of 2015-2016, which has led to criticism of border guards and judicial investigations.
