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Fact check: Was this deportation carried out under existing policy or as an exception?

Checked on June 4, 2025

1. Summary of the results

The deportation appears to be part of a systematic policy shift rather than an exception. The EU is actively implementing new coordinated deportation policies, with European leaders, including Von der Leyen, explicitly endorsing tougher migration measures [1]. This is evidenced by the creation of "return hubs" and new mechanisms allowing cross-border deportation enforcement between EU countries [2].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several crucial contextual elements are missing from the original question:

  • Currently, only 20% of individuals with return decisions are actually being deported from the EU [1]
  • In Germany specifically, as of June 2024, only 17,583 rejected asylum seekers could be immediately deported, while 86% have "tolerated stay" status preventing deportation [3]
  • Historical precedent from the UK's Windrush scandal demonstrates how systematic deportation policies can affect even legally settled migrants when documentation requirements change [4]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question presents a false dichotomy between "existing policy" and "exception," when the reality is more complex:

  • The framing overlooks that policies are currently in a state of active transition, with new EU-wide mechanisms being implemented [2]
  • The question ignores the significant gap between policy and practical implementation, as demonstrated by the German statistics [3]
  • Historical examples like the Windrush scandal show how seemingly routine policy implementation can have unexpected and severe consequences for specific migrant communities [4]

Those benefiting from portraying deportations as "exceptional" might include:

  • Politicians seeking to downplay systematic changes in migration policy
  • Government officials trying to avoid comparisons to controversial historical cases like Windrush

Those benefiting from emphasizing "existing policy":

  • EU officials pushing for stronger enforcement mechanisms
  • Political groups advocating for stricter immigration controls
Want to dive deeper?
What are the standard deportation procedures under current immigration law?
How often do immigration authorities make exceptions to deportation policies?
What legal grounds exist for challenging deportation orders in court?
How do political administrations differ in their deportation policy enforcement?
What role do sanctuary cities play in deportation policy implementation?