Europe's steps to tighten immigration echo Trump administration ones

Key Points:

• The European Union is expanding its powers to track, raid, and deport migrants to "return hubs" in third countries, adopting tactics similar to those used by the Trump administration in the U.S., amid rising right-wing influence in Europe.
• The new Pact on Migration and Asylum, effective June 12, aims to prevent a migration crisis like that of 2015 by enhancing deportation efforts and establishing migrant detention centers abroad, modeled after Italy's approach under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
• Several EU countries, including Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands, are negotiating agreements with countries like Kenya to host deportation centers, while Sweden supports setting up hubs outside Europe for specific asylum seekers.
• Human rights groups criticize the EU for increasing pushbacks, raids, and surveillance on migrants, highlighting abuses such as forced returns without asylum access, violence, and weakening legal protections under the guise of security.
• Despite harsher policies, Europe still maintains more institutional and legal protections for migrants compared to the U.S., though advocates warn the political momentum toward stricter migration control may lead to similar human rights consequences.