Right-wing lawmakers in the European Parliament shouted “Send them home” during a debate on deporting migrants from EU countries, while left-wing members responded with “Shame on you.” The argument broke out as lawmakers discussed a proposal to speed up the return of migrants who have arrived in EU states in recent years.
The confrontation came as the parliament approved the measure by 418 votes to 218. The new rules are expected to take effect soon and will introduce a series of steps meant to help send migrants back to their countries of origin.
Among the measures, the law would allow authorities to detain migrants for up to two years or place them in closed migration centers. Human rights groups called those centers “potential black holes for human rights,” and described the bill as “absurd, cruel and discriminatory.” UN human rights experts also warned that the new rules could violate international human rights standards.
The shouting drew sharp criticism from senior EU figures. European Parliament Vice President Javi López called the scene “shameful” and wrote on social media that it was as if “people were packages,” adding that families and minors were being deported to third countries. Manos Karleil, communications director for the left group in the European Parliament, said it was “a dark moment that will probably go down in the history of the European Union.”
