BRUSSELS — The European Parliament voted 418 to 218 on May 15, 2024, to approve measures aimed at increasing deportations of undocumented people. Following the vote, rightwing Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) chanted "send them back," while other lawmakers responded by shouting "shame on you."

The approved plans include measures under which people could be detained for up to two years and allow for undocumented people to be sent to offshore centres. Sixteen UN experts outlined more than a dozen ways in which the rules could contravene international human rights.

Javi López, vice-president of the European Parliament, described the plenary session as "disgraceful." He stated on social media: "As if people were parcels. Families. Minors. Deported to third countries. This is the Europe they are imposing." Manus Carlisle, communication manager for the Left group in parliament, said it was a "dark moment that is likely to go down in EU history."

Ilaria Salis, an Italian MEP for the Green and Left Alliance, described the event as "horrifying." Salis wrote on social media: "The human depravity of a certain political faction truly seems to know no bounds: rejoicing over the deportation of innocent people." She added: "Rejoicing not because someone's life is improving, but because someone else's – considered different, inferior, less deserving of rights – is getting worse." Salis further stated: "Today, migrants and racialised people are primarily in the crosshairs – the quintessential scapegoats of the right wing's vulgar propaganda," and warned: "But tomorrow, if we continue at this pace, it will be the turn of more and more people. It will be the working class, activists, and dissidents – and eventually anyone who does not conform to the order they seek to impose."

Amnesty International France described the plans as "absurd, cruel and discriminatory." French Renew MEP Laurence Farreng said it was a moment in which "the far right is screaming its hatred." Herbert Kickl, leader of Austria's Freedom party (FPÖ), welcomed the chants, stating on social media: "The fact that 'send them back' was shouted in the plenary hall shows one thing above all: pressure from the right is having an effect." He further characterized the step as: "An important step, but by no means the end of the road."