New immigration and deportation rules in the European Union

What changes with the new Migration and Asylum Pact?

The Pact replaces fragmented rules with common standards for the entire bloc. Now, anyone entering illegally will undergo mandatory identity, security and health screening within seven days. The objective is to create a quick filter right at the border: anyone coming from countries with a low asylum approval rate will have their application hurriedly analyzed and, if rejected, will be immediately sent to deportation.

How will the use of migrants’ biometric data work?

Europe has beefed up Eurodac, a database that stores fingerprints and facial images. This technology is used to track migrants within the European Union. The system prevents the same person from seeking asylum in several different countries at the same time and helps authorities monitor unauthorized movements between neighboring nations, ensuring that the foreigner remains where his process is being analyzed.

What is the main problem that the bloc is trying to solve with deportations?

Today there is a major bottleneck: many are ordered to leave, but few actually leave the continent. In a typical quarter, only about 34,000 people leave the block, despite more than 117,000 orders issued. To resolve this, in addition to faster processes, the European Parliament authorized the creation of ‘return sites’ in countries outside the European Union where irregular immigrants can be sent while awaiting their final destination.

How do the new rules affect Brazilians and other tourists?

Tourists are also in the crosshairs of digitalization. The Entry and Exit System (EES) is already fully operational, replacing the stamp in the passport with mandatory biometrics for anyone visiting the 29 countries in the Schengen Area. In practice, this allows authorities to know exactly whether someone has exceeded the permitted period of stay. From the end of 2026, ETIAS will also come into force, an electronic authorization that Brazilians must request before boarding.

Why did the European Union decide to change the rules right now?

There is a strong political motivation. The growth of nationalist and conservative parties in countries such as Italy, France and Poland has placed immigration at the center of public debate. With general elections scheduled for 2027 in several important nations in the bloc, Brussels authorities decided to act to show that they have control of the borders and that the migration system can be stable and predictable, reducing the feeling of permanent crisis since 2015.