Returns of irregular migrants up by 29% in Q2 2023

In the second quarter of 2023, there were 105 865 non-EU citizens ordered to leave an EU country, and a total of 26 600 were returned to another country following an order to leave. Compared with the same quarter of 2022, the number of non-EU citizens ordered to leave the EU country rose by 9%, while the number of people returned to another country rose by 29%. 

In comparison to the previous quarter of this year, the number of orders to leave decreased by 5%, while the returns remained stable.

The majority of those returned in accordance with an order to leave, are those returned to countries located outside of the EU. This was also the case in the second quarter of 2023, with 76% of individuals returned to countries outside of the EU.

Source dataset: MIGR_EIORD1 and MIGR_EIRTN1

Among those ordered to leave the territory of an EU country, in the second quarter of 2023, Moroccan and Algerian citizens recorded the biggest share of the total (8% each), followed by citizens of Türkiye (5%), Georgia (5%) and Afghanistan (4%). 

Among those returned to another country, most were citizens of Georgia (9%) followed by Albania (8%), Moldova (5%), Türkiye (5%) and India (4%).

Looking at the country data, the highest numbers of non-EU citizens ordered to leave the territory of an EU country were recorded in France (34 810), Germany (10 600) and Greece (7 095). 
The highest number of people returned to another country were recorded in Germany (3 805), France (3 005) and Sweden (2 690). 

Source dataset: MIGR_EIORD1 and MIGR_EIRTN1