More than 80,000 illegal “pushback” incidents were recorded at Europe’s external borders last year, according to a report by a coalition of international human rights organizations, including the Brussels-based group 11.11.11.
The report documented 80,865 cases in which migrants attempting to enter European countries were forcibly returned across borders without being allowed to apply for asylum.
What ‘Pushbacks’ Mean
In the report, “pushbacks” refer to the practice of forcing migrants or asylum seekers back across a border without giving them access to asylum procedures. Human rights organizations say such actions often involve violence and intimidation.
A young migrant from Egypt who traveled along the Balkan migration route said he and dozens of others were abused during one such incident. According to his account, authorities beat the group, took their clothes and pushed them into a river near the border of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia in the early hours of the morning.
The group reportedly consisted of 40 migrants, including 12 minors.
Violations of International Law
The report says pushbacks violate both European law and the principle of non-refoulement under the United Nations Refugee Convention. This principle prohibits returning individuals to another country without first determining whether they require protection.
Human rights organizations argue that the practice is not isolated but systematic.
In January 2025, the European Court of Human Rights confirmed that illegal pushbacks in Greece were not isolated cases but part of a broader pattern.
Deadly Incidents at Sea
Reports of violence at sea have also continued. Earlier this month, a boat carrying migrants collided with a vessel from the Hellenic Coast Guard, leaving 15 people dead. Survivors claimed the boat had been deliberately prevented from reaching the shore.
Similar accusations have also been raised against authorities in Bulgaria.
Calls for Accountability
Human rights groups believe the real number of pushbacks may be much higher, as many incidents occur in remote border areas or at sea and go unreported.
Migration policy expert Flor Didden of 11.11.11 said that while immigration enforcement operations in the United States often receive significant media scrutiny, similar actions by European border authorities attract far less attention.
She questioned why the same level of moral clarity is not applied when European border forces are accused of abuse, robbery, and pushing migrants toward death.
The organizations behind the report have called on European authorities to end illegal pushbacks, ensure access to asylum procedures, and guarantee the safety and human rights of migrants at the continent’s borders.
