In the second quarter of 2026, European Union member states issued formal orders to leave to 110,335 non-EU citizens, while 36,825 people were successfully returned to third countries, according to data published by Eurostat.
EU Migration Enforcement Trends in Q2 2026
Data from Eurostat shows that the number of non-EU citizens ordered to leave an EU country declined by 12.0% in the second quarter of 2026 compared to the corresponding period in 2025. On a quarter-over-quarter basis, departure orders dropped by 3.9% compared to the first quarter of 2026.
Conversely, the enforcement of returns picked up pace. The number of individuals returned to third countries following an official order increased by 9.7% year-over-year.
Primary Nationalities Affected by Departure Orders and Returns
The demographic breakdown of individuals targeted by immigration measures highlights specific countries of origin.
- Departure Orders: The highest numbers of non-EU citizens ordered to leave came from Algeria, with 10,390 issued orders. Moroccan nationals followed with 6,200 orders, and Syrian citizens accounted for 5,180 orders.
- Third-Country Returns: Among those actually returned to countries outside the EU, Turkish nationals formed the largest group at 3,765 people. Syrian citizens constituted the second-largest group with 2,770 returns, followed by Georgians at 2,140.
Member States Leading Enforcement Actions
Enforcement activity across the bloc remained unevenly distributed, with a handful of member states accounting for the majority of administrative decisions and physical returns.
France issued the highest number of departure orders in the second quarter of 2026, reaching 32,420 notices. Portugal followed with 11,190 orders, while Germany issued 8,160 departure orders.
When measuring actual removals, Germany led the bloc by returning 8,400 people to third countries. France executed 3,825 returns, and Poland carried out 3,005 returns during the same three-month window.
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