Returning Irregular Migrants: Is Deportation the UK’s Only Option?

Irregular migration presents a significant public and policy concern across the EU and in particularly in the UK, where the estimated number of irregular migrants is one of the highest in the EU. Returning irregular migrants: Is deportation the UK's only option? examines the current situation in the UK, where there is no systematic policy of amnesty or regularization for irregular migrants. With the aim of addressing some of the questions around improving return management, we highlight the limitations in the current UK's response which relies heavily on the forced removal of irregular migrants. The ultimate goal is to seek an efficient and sustainable approach to returning irregular migrants to their home countries.