EU Deportation Plans: Healthcare Workers Warn of Public Health Risk

More than 1,100 healthcare professionals across Europe have voiced strong opposition to proposed measures that would expand the deportation of undocumented individuals, raising concerns that hospitals and other essential public services could be transformed into sites of immigration enforcement. The debate centers on draft plans currently under consideration by the European Parliament, scheduled for a vote on Thursday, which aim to increase the rate of returns for those without legal residency within the EU, potentially including the establishment of offshore processing centers in non-EU countries.

The proposals, initially laid out by the European Commission in March 2025, gained momentum following gains made by far-right parties in the 2024 European Parliament elections. This broader effort to overhaul the EU’s migration management system is now facing significant pushback from within the healthcare community. The core of the disagreement lies in a proposed requirement for member states to implement broad detection measures to identify undocumented people, a policy critics fear will lead to racial profiling and the erosion of trust in vital public services.

A Shift in the Role of Healthcare

The open letter, signed by doctors and nurses from countries including Portugal, Ireland, and Greece, explicitly states: “We refuse to become instruments of immigration enforcement.” Published in six languages, the letter argues that the proposed measures represent a fundamental shift in the role of healthcare providers and the nature of public services. Healthcare professionals are deeply concerned that they could be compelled to report undocumented patients, violating ethical duties related to patient privacy and access to care. This concern echoes similar anxieties raised in the UK, where rules introduced in 2017 require hospitals in England to charge upfront fees for many forms of hospital care to undocumented migrants.

Anna Miller, head of UK policy and advocacy at Doctors of the World UK, notes the impact of these existing policies: “In our clinics in the UK we spot patients too afraid to go forward to the NHS in case it leads to an ICE-style raid at their home address.” She warns that the EU regulation risks creating a similar “climate of fear” across the continent, deterring individuals from seeking necessary medical attention. This reluctance to access care, healthcare professionals argue, poses a risk to public health as a whole. As highlighted in a Guardian report, similar concerns are already surfacing in the US, where ICE raids have been linked to decreased healthcare utilization.

The Potential for a Public Health Crisis

The letter emphasizes that when individuals fear accessing healthcare, “everyone’s health is at risk.” This is since untreated conditions can spread, and delayed care often leads to more severe and costly health outcomes. The proposals also raise concerns about increased detention rates, including the detention of children, both within and outside of Europe. Healthcare professionals point to the well-documented negative health consequences of detention, including increased rates of respiratory and infectious diseases, anxiety, depression, and even suicide. The impact on children, they argue, is particularly devastating and potentially long-lasting.

The European Commission, in announcing the proposals last year, framed them as “effective and modern procedures” designed to increase deportation rates. Currently, approximately one in five individuals without the right to stay in the EU are actually returned to their country of origin, a rate that has remained largely unchanged in recent years. However, critics argue that focusing solely on deportation numbers overlooks the broader human and public health consequences of these policies.

Concerns Over Racial Profiling and Erosion of Trust

Beyond the direct impact on healthcare access, the proposed measures have sparked concerns about the potential for racial profiling. The requirement for broad detection measures, critics argue, could lead to the targeting of individuals based on their ethnicity or perceived immigration status. This could transform everyday spaces – schools, workplaces, public transport – into sites of immigration enforcement, further eroding trust between communities and public services.

These concerns are echoed by 75 rights organizations who, in February, issued a joint statement warning that the plans would “consolidate a punitive system, fuelled by far-right rhetoric and based on racialised suspicion, denunciation, detention, and deportation.” Sixteen UN rights experts also previously voiced their concerns, outlining over a dozen ways in which the plans could violate international human rights obligations.

The Role of Médecins du Monde

Médecins du Monde, the organization that coordinated the open letter, is actively calling on EU institutions to remove any provisions that could deter individuals from seeking healthcare. Andrea Soler of Médecins du Monde emphasizes that “Migration enforcement cannot come at the expense of the right to health.” The organization advocates for EU policies that prioritize public health, uphold medical ethics, and guarantee safe access to healthcare for all, regardless of migration status.

The debate over these proposed measures highlights a fundamental tension between immigration control and public health. As the European Parliament prepares to vote, the concerns raised by healthcare professionals serve as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of prioritizing enforcement over the well-being of all individuals within the EU. The outcome of this vote will likely shape the future of healthcare access and public health policy across the continent.

Looking Ahead: The Next Steps

Following Thursday’s vote, the proposals will move to the next stage of the EU legislative process: negotiations between EU institutions – the Parliament, the Council, and the Commission – to reach a final agreement on the text. This process will involve intense debate and potential compromise. Healthcare organizations and rights groups will continue to advocate for amendments that protect access to healthcare and prevent the erosion of trust in public services. The final outcome remains uncertain, but the concerns raised by healthcare professionals have brought a critical public health dimension to the ongoing debate over EU migration policy.