Italy and Libya's murky migrant deals
Europe
Foreigners required to pass language test with new French immigration law
With a new immigration law in France, foreigners will now be required to pass a language exam if they wish to remain in the country. Tens of thousands will be affected by this decree, and could even risk being kicked out of the country if they do not meet the requisite level. This comes as in-person language courses have been reduced.
For many who hold employment and have been living in the country for years, this new requirement could have a significant impact on their future in France.
Report by FRANCE 2 (adapted by Lauren Bain).
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EU seeks to intensify immigrant deportations
The European Commission has formally proposed to harmonize deportation rules across the EU. The current regulations, which vary by state, allow those who have been denied the right to remain in the bloc lawfully to exploit the system, resulting in a 20% deportation rate.
President Ursula von der Leyen has labeled the figure “by far, too low.”
The proposed rules “will ensure that those who have no right to stay in the EU are actually returned” to their countries of origin, EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner, has claimed.
The 87-page document unveiled on Tuesday will require immigrants to cooperate with authorities, permit the extended detention of asylum seekers, and introduce the mutual recognition of deportation orders among member states. The reforms aim to encourage voluntary returns and close loopholes currently exploited by illegal immigrants who evade forced repatriation by moving between EU countries.
The plan will establish “return hubs” – deportation centers in third countries willing to accept expelled individuals from the EU. If approved by the European Parliament and the Council of Europe, the new system is set to take effect in mid-2027.
Illegal immigration has remained a hot-button issue in the EU since the 2015 crisis, which saw over a million people arrive in member states.
The authorities’ decision to welcome this influx sparked a backlash from several Eastern European nations, citing threats to security and culture.
Political guidelines issued by von der Leyen last July pledged to strengthen the EU’s borders and crack down on human trafficking, a significant driver of illegal immigration.
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Russia increased migrant expulsions in 2024 – Interior Ministry
The number of foreign nationals expelled from Russia reached 190,000 last year, nearly a third more than in 2023, Interior Ministry spokeswoman Irina Volk announced on Wednesday. The country adopted stricter migration laws following a foreign-organized terrorist attack on a concert venue outside Moscow in March 2024, in which four gunmen killed 145 people and injured over 500 others.
The jihadist group ISIS-K, the Afghan branch of Islamic State, claimed responsibility for the attack, which was carried out by Tajik nationals. Many of those suspected of aiding the attackers were also foreign nationals from Central Asia, some with prior criminal records.
The number of foreigners expelled from the country in 2024 due to law violations jumped by 45% compared to 2023, Volk said in a statement on her Telegram channel. The official added that the ministry issued over 267,000 orders of entry denial, up 54% from the previous year.
“Additionally, the number of issued temporary residence permits halved, while the number of permanent residence permits dropped by almost a quarter,” Volk said, emphasizing that the drop is attributed to stricter control measures aimed at “detecting and preventing cases of foreign citizens abusing the right to obtain such statuses through a simplified procedure.”
In December, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree requiring illegal migrants to either legalize their status or leave Russia by April 30, 2025.
Last year, several new laws were enacted to monitor illegal migration through a register of “controlled persons.” Additionally, starting February 5, 2025, the expulsion of undocumented foreigners no longer requires a court ruling.
Organizing illegal migration has now been classified as a particularly serious offense. Penalties include the confiscation of financial assets or property acquired through human trafficking. The measure aims to eliminate economic incentives for criminals and disrupt illegal migration networks.
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