European Union Returns Directive and Its Compatibility with International Human Rights Law

"Combatting irregular immigration has become a major goal of migration policy of the European Union (EU). According to the European Commission (hereafter Commission), the "prevention of and the fight against illegal immigration are essential parts of the common and comprehensive asylum and immigration policy of the European Union." In particular, the return policy is "an integral and vital component in the fight against illegal immigration." The return policy, as the essential tool of the EU's "fight against illegal immigration," targets thousands of non- citizens annually"--