Europe updates human rights rules to speed up migrant deportations

Foreign ministers from 46 nations signed a declaration in Moldova to reinterpret the European Convention on Human Rights regarding migration.

The agreement emphasizes a state's undeniable sovereign right to control its borders and remove foreign nationals. This shift aims to facilitate offshore processing and the use of third-country return hubs for rejected asylum seekers. European leaders hope this clarification prevents judges from using human rights laws to block the deportation of foreign criminals and irregular arrivals.

While the document is non-binding, it provides a legal framework for member states to implement much tougher immigration policies.