MEPs back plans for ‘return hubs’, raising fears of ‘human rights black holes’

European parliament votes in favour of sending refused asylum seekers to offshore hubs, in ‘historic setback for refugee rights’ People with no right to stay in the EU could be detained for up to two years or sent to offshore centres described by experts as possible “human rights black holes” under plans voted for by the European parliament on Thursday. An alliance of mostly centre-right and far-right lawmakers voted for a proposal to increase returns of undocumented migrants to their home countries, in a further sign of strain on the grand coalition of centrist political forces that has traditionally driven EU lawmaking. The draft law, outlined in March last year, seeks to create “a credible forced return policy” to ensure that people denied asylum or who have overstayed their visa can be removed from the EU. Brussels officials say only about one in five people under a return order are deported to their country of origin. Under the plans, people could be detained for up to two years if they are deemed a security risk or likely to abscond, or they are seen as hindering their removal. The current law allows for a maximum detention period of 18 months. The European parlia