EU Deportations Rise, But 1 in 4 Orders Executed
The Spin
Pro-government narrative
The EU is successfully combating irregular migration while protecting its liberal values. Not only have deportations increased, but arrivals have also dropped to 112,000 in the first eight months of 2025 – a 52% decline from 2023 and far below the million-plus level seen in 2015. This stems from effective deterrence through cooperation with transit nations, as well as the post-Assad reductions from Syria.
Establishment-critical narrative
Years of flooding Europe with millions of migrants has directly caused spikes in crime and social tension. The EU is only now coming to terms with reality. Yet, despite recent drops in arrivals stemming from belated deterrence such as transit aid and Rwanda-style hubs, the bloc still fails to go far enough if it is to effectively protect European sovereignty and security.