Slovakia Among 19 EU States Calling for Migrant Deportation Centers

Slovakia has joined 18 other European Union member states in signing a letter to the European Council calling for the establishment of deportation centers for migrants. The joint letter, submitted to the EU's top decision-making body, urges the creation of facilities to hold and process migrants pending their removal from European territory. The move reflects growing pressure from a bloc of EU governments — spanning both eastern and western Europe — to take a harder line on irregular migration and accelerate the return of those denied the right to remain. Slovakia, governed by Prime Minister Robert Fico's Smer-SD party, a left-nationalist government that has consistently championed strict migration controls, is among the leading voices in the EU pushing for tougher enforcement measures. The proposal marks a significant escalation in the EU's internal debate over migration policy, as member states remain divided between those favoring stronger border controls and deportation mechanisms and those prioritizing humanitarian protections for asylum seekers.