Healthcare Professionals Urge Rejection of EU Deportation Measures

More than 1,100 healthcare professionals across Europe have called on Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to reject proposed measures aimed at increasing the deportation of undocumented individuals. These measures, which are set for a vote, have raised alarms among medical practitioners who argue that they could jeopardize public health by transforming essential services, such as hospitals, into sites of immigration enforcement. The European Commission introduced these proposals in March 2025, following gains made by far-right parties in the 2024 European Parliament elections. The draft plans include provisions for member states to implement broad detection measures to identify undocumented individuals, potentially leading to their deportation to offshore centers in non-EU countries.

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Healthcare professionals, including doctors and nurses from countries such as Portugal, Ireland, and Greece, have expressed concerns that the proposed regulations would create a "climate of fear" that deters individuals from seeking medical care. They argue that the requirement for healthcare workers to report undocumented patients undermines ethical duties to protect patient privacy and access to care. Anna Miller, head of UK policy and advocacy at Doctors of the World UK, noted that similar policies in the UK have already led to patients avoiding the National Health Service (NHS) due to fears of immigration enforcement.

The Guardian

The proposed measures have drawn criticism from various rights organizations. In February, 75 rights groups issued a joint statement warning that the plans would reinforce a punitive system driven by far-right rhetoric, characterized by racial profiling and the criminalization of vulnerable populations. Additionally, 16 rights experts from the United Nations raised concerns that the proposals could violate international human rights obligations. The healthcare professionals' letter also highlighted the potential for increased detention of individuals, including children, which is associated with severe health consequences such as anxiety, depression, and higher incidences of suicide.

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In response to the proposed measures, the European Commission described them as "effective and modern procedures" aimed at enhancing deportation rates for individuals denied asylum or who have overstayed their visas. Currently, about one in five undocumented individuals are returned to their countries of origin, a rate that has remained relatively unchanged in recent years. Andrea Soler from Médecins du Monde emphasized that "migration enforcement cannot come at the expense of the right to health," urging EU institutions to ensure that migration policies protect public health and uphold medical ethics.

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• “We refuse to become instruments of immigration enforcement,” — Open Letter from Healthcare Professionals

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• “In our clinics in the UK we see patients too afraid to go forward to the NHS in case it leads to an ICE-style raid at their home address,” — Anna Miller, Doctors of the World UK

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• “Detention has well-documented health consequences: respiratory and infectious diseases, severe anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, retraumatisation, acute psychiatric needs and higher incidences of suicide,” — Open Letter from Healthcare Professionals

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• “Migration enforcement cannot come at the expense of the right to health,” — Andrea Soler, Médecins du Monde

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While healthcare professionals and rights organizations have raised significant concerns regarding the proposed measures, the European Commission maintains that these regulations are necessary for effective migration management. The debate continues as the vote approaches, with differing perspectives on the implications for public health and human rights.

The Guardian