Voluntary return explained

Voluntary return or voluntary repatriation is usually the return of an illegal immigrant or over-stayer, a rejected asylum seeker, a refugee or displaced person, or an unaccompanied minor; sometimes it is the emigration of a second-generation immigrant[1] who makes an autonomous decision to return to their ethnic homeland when they are unable or unwilling to remain in the host country.

Overview

The terms are used in slightly different contexts and can refer to:

Some voluntary return programmes offer assisted voluntary return (AVR) and some voluntary return is spontaneous and independent without assistance.

Voluntary return of refugees

Legal basis

The concept of voluntary repatriation was first developed in the 1969 Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa. It was agreed that:

"The sending state, in collaboration with the receiving state, must make adequate arrangements for the safe return of refugees who request repatriation, while the country of origin must facilitate their resettlement and grant them the full rights and privileges of nationals of the country, and subject them to the same obligations."[3]

Controversies

Support offered

The UNHCR and the IOM offer assistance to refugees who want to return voluntarily and to other people in need of support for returning to their home countries. This includes administrative, logistical, financial and reintegration support. Many developed countries also provide assistance and voluntary return programmes independent from the IOM and the UNHCR. Support includes making travel arrangements and paying for the journey. Support may also include financial support so that returnees can make sustainable investments and can build their lives again. Connecting people with networks and groups in the country of origin so that they will get support from local organisations.

When one takes part in assisted voluntary return programs (AVR), the applicant is giving up their claim as a refugee or asylum-seeker. Many times this includes a five-year travel ban restricting the individual from returning to the host country,[6] similar to deportation. According to interviews with IOM workers and files on return migrants who took part in their program, it is not uncommon for return migrants to feel pressured into applying to AVR programs due to financial hardships, lack of employment, fear of deportation, etc.[7]

Government policies and incentives

Europe

– Return and Emigration of Asylum Seekers Ex Belgium programme: This program is open to asylum seekers and third-country nationals who want to return to their country of origin or to voluntarily emigrate to a third world country. As this program is voluntary, one can retract their application if ever they change their mind. Applicants are offered travel support, including counselling prior to departure, assistance during their flight and travel cost. Applicants are also offered some monetary compensation to get them to their home from the airport. Financial support is also offered to aid in the reintegration process, partially funded by the European Return Fund.[8]

– with a history of financially incentivising the voluntary return of immigrants,[9] Denmark raised the amount to 100,000 kroner per person (around €13,000 EUR or US$20,000[10]) in 2009.[11] Peter Skaarup, deputy leader of the Danish People's Party, explained the scheme was aimed at immigrants from outside the EU and non-Nordic nations, targeting "nationals from non-Western countries who are struggling to adapt to Danish society". The Danish government also allocated 20 million kroner for city councils, to "motivate foreigners to return home".[12]

– from 2005 around 3,000 immigrant families were paid to voluntarily leave France. By 2007, under newly elected President Nicolas Sarkozy, the French government started an enhanced scheme offering €6,000 per immigrant family to return to their country of origin. Brice Hortefeux, Immigration Minister, stated that France "must increase this measure to help voluntary return".[13] In 2016, in response to the European migrant crisis, the government had rapidly risen the offer from €350 to €2,500 per individual.[14] In 2017, Interior Minister Gerard Collomb reconfirmed the commitment to raise the monetary offer for immigrants to leave France.

– with 35,000 voluntary returns in 2015, Germany allocated an extra €150 million over three years for migrants willing to return to their homelands.[15] The policy saw an increase to 55,000 repatriations in the first year.[16] In February 2017, under the 'Starthilfe Plus' scheme, immigrants were offered up to €1,000 each, or €3,000 to families, to leave the country and withdraw applications for asylum or residency.[17] As of October 2017, 8,639 immigrants had returned home via the government program.[18] [19] In December 2017, under the slogan "Your country. Your future. Now!",[20] the German government began offering grants for new kitchens and bathrooms, as well as one year's worth of paid rent, in the country of origin of an immigrant choosing to return home.[21]

– in 2009, the Republic of Ireland government began offering repatriations grants to immigrants from nations outside the European Union to return home. The move was motivated by the Irish economic recession, with the EU-funded project attempting to "persuade foreign workers and asylum seekers to return to their country of origin".[22]

– in 2013, the Italian government offered African migrants, mainly from Ghana, Libya and Togo, up to €500 to leave the country and travel onwards to Germany, France or northern European nations. Detlef Scheele, Hamburgs social affairs minister, dealing with multiple arrivals from Italy, declared that the immigrants had "no legal right to stay" and would return to Italy or back to their home countries.[23] [24]

– in 2016 the Norwegian government offered the first 500 asylum seekers to take a 10,000 kroner "bonus" to leave the country voluntarily, in addition to the 20,000 kroner already offered per person.[25] Sylvi Listhaug, Integration Minister of Norway, claimed the move might "entice" immigrants to "voluntarily travel back by giving them a bit more money on their way out".[26]

– in 2008, struggling from recession and with unemployment towards 30%, the Spanish government proposed a 'Voluntary Return Plan'. Mainly targeting immigrants from South America, the Spanish labour ministry identified around 100,000 individuals from 19 countries which would be eligible for the scheme.[27] In 2011, Anna Terrón, Secretary of State for Immigration, claimed the scheme "helps everyone if those who want to return to their country of origin are able to."[28]

– in August 2007, the Swedish government began offering asylum seekers who were rejected permanent residency the equivalent of £3,500 per immigrant for a voluntary return to their country of origin.[29] [30] This resulted in a record 4,542 immigrants taking part in the scheme, and returning home in the first 8 months of 2016.[31]

– the Swiss government, following in the footsteps of Denmark, began a policy of confiscating any property of illegal immigrants with a value over 1,000 Swiss francs. However, the 2016 policy included an incentive for migrants to return to their country of origin, with the SEM stating that "if someone leaves voluntarily within seven months this person can get the money back and take it with them."[32] [33]

– in 2006, asylum seekers and illegal immigrants were offered up to £3,000 per individual to leave the country. Job training, education as well as travel costs were included in the scheme, with an expected uptake of 3,000 people, costing the British taxpayer an estimated £6.2 million.[34] By 2010, the annual cost had risen to £16 million, with Immigration Minister Damian Green announcing a reduction from the 5-year delay on re-entry applications, to further incentivise quick voluntary repatriations.

North America

– the Canadian government opted to not renew their 'Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration' pilot program in early 2015, after an evaluation by the Canada Border Services Agency. The program sought to reduce the number of failed asylum appeals and incentivize voluntarily leaving the country, but did not achieve all its objectives.[37]

– in 2018, the American government announced the end of temporary protected status (TPS) for 200,000 Salvadoran immigrants. The decision, implemented by President Donald Trump, gave an 18-month period for immigrants to find a legal route to staying in the U.S. or to return to their country of origin. The termination of TPS comes into effect on September 9, 2019, granting immigrants a grace period for voluntarily repatriation, before facing deportation beyond that date.[38]

Rest of world

– the Israeli government withhold 20 percent of asylum seekers' wages, in an attempt to encourage individuals to leave the country, where they will have access to the funds upon return to their homeland. The scheme was launched from May 2016, and currently applies to asylum seekers from Sudan and Eritrea.[39]

– after the 2008 recession, Japan initiated a policy of paying unemployed workers to leave the country, mainly targeting the Latin American Dekasegi population for voluntary return.[40] The incentivised scheme offered $3,000 (USD), plus $2,000 per dependent, and came with additional clauses that children of the returnee (second-generation immigrants) would not be able to later emigrate to Japan regardless of circumstance.

UNHCR refugee return statistics

Voluntary return movements of refugees by country between 2014 and 2010
Returning fromReturning to20142013[42] 2012[43] 2011[44] 2010[45]
TotalUNHCR assistedTotalUNHCR assistedTotalUNHCR assistedTotalUNHCR assistedTotalUNHCR assisted
Afghanistan India 210 160 120 70 110 50
Afghanistan Iran 4,510 4,510 8,250 8,250 15,040 15,040 18,850 18,850 8,490 8,490
Afghanistan Pakistan 12,990 12,260 31,220 30,390 83,420 80,000 52,100 49,160 109,380 109,380
Angola Botswana 430 430
Angola Congo 180 180 190 190
Angola 12,480 12,480 15,570 15,570 1,540 1,540
Angola Namibia 2,810 2,810
Angola Zambia 1,620 1,620 1,160 1,160 1,090 980 2,370 2,370 400 400
Germany 180 0
BosniaSweden 200 0
Burundi 900 900 1,500 1,500 480 480 3,940 3,940 3,640 3,640
Burundi Kenya 290 290
Burundi Tanzania 510 510 35,200 35,200 340 340 1,010 1,010
Cameroon Nigeria 390 390
Cameroon 350 350 2,500 2,500
Chad 1,970 1,970 6,470 6,470
Chad Cameroon 380 380 1,710 1,710
Chad 270 270
Congo Gabon 710 710
Côte d'Ivoire Benin 100 100 110 110
Côte d'Ivoire Guinea 390 390
Côte d'Ivoire Liberia 12,210 12,200 18,720 18,270 71,990 7,110 135,110 135,110
Côte d'Ivoire Mali 160 160
Côte d'Ivoire Togo 660 660 460 410
Croatia 160 160 230 230 400 110
Croatia Serbia 120 120 410 410 200 200
Burundi 290 290 260 260 490 490 1,100 1,100
6,970 6,970 310 10 790 0 11,640 0
Congo 10,070 10,070 62,870 62,870 46,390 46,390 760 20
South Sudan 2,510 2,510
Sudan 4,470 0 2,440 0
Uganda 5,540 5,540 320 10 21,910 10 7,990 0 6,180 10
Tanzania 100 100
Zambia 130 130 9,270 9,270
Ethiopia South Sudan 440 440
Iraq Austria 360 360
Iraq Egypt 100 100
Iraq France 100 100
Iraq Germany 320 320
Iraq Greece 450 450
Iraq Indonesia 960 960
Iraq Iran 280 280
Iraq Italy 350 350
Iraq Jordan 750 750
Iraq Kazakhstan 2,310 2,310
Iraq Lebanon 110 110
Iraq Libya 240 240
Iraq New Zealand 370 370
Iraq Norway 250 250
Iraq Syria 1,960 1,960
Iraq Turkey 120 120
Iraq 430 430
Iraq 740 740
Iraq various/unknown 60,880 48,190 82,270 40,460 67,09067,090 28,820 25,180
Kenya Uganda 320 320
Liberia Côte d'Ivoire 17,590 17,590 1,1701,170 920 920
Liberia Gambia 330 330
Liberia Ghana 4,710 4,710 470470 180 180
Liberia Guinea 5,550 5,550 120 120
Liberia Nigeria 170 170
Liberia Sierra Leone 1,030 1,030
Libya Tunisia 1,050 0 148,9500
Mali Algeria 2,370 2,370 920 0
Mali Burkina Faso 7,740 7,740 3,760 110
Mali Mauritania 4,550 4,550 3,900 2,050
Mali Niger 6,300 6,300 5,690 2,760
Mauritania Senegal 6,210 6,210 1,370 1,370 1,390 1,390
Myanmar Thailand 3,000 0
Pakistan Afghanistan 3,450 0
Rwanda 5,650 5,650 7,200 7,200 10,780 10,780 8,350 8,350 10,810 10,810
Rwanda Uganda 410 410 380 380
Serbia Macedonia 250 210 160 150
Serbia Montenegro 130 130 120 120 200 200
Somalia Ethiopia 4,480 0
Somalia Ethiopia 490 490 28,830 0
Somalia Sudan 130 0
Somalia Yemen 1,990 0 2,620 30 110 110
South Sudan Israel 330 160
South Sudan Uganda 280 280 1,910 1,910 890 890
Sri Lanka India 500 400 910 710 1,450 1,260 2,310 1,670 5,040 5,040
Sudan Chad 13,110 13,110 16,940 16,940 17,660 17,660 30,890 14,670 4,000 0
Sudan Egypt 150 150 140 120 250 250
Sudan Ethiopia 270 270
Sudan Israel 100 100
Sudan Libya 17,820 17,820
Sudan Uganda 1,670 1,670 810 810 2,670 2,670
Syria Turkey 140,760 0 68,570 0
Togo Benin 100 100
Turkey Iraq 240 0
Zimbabwe South Africa 100 60

Voluntary return of other migrants

Voluntary return statistics

Voluntary returns via IOM AVRR between 2014 and 2010[46]
Country/Territorydeparted from country/territory returned to country/territory
20112012201320142011201220132014
17 834 2,019 1,624 1,304
Albania2853303261,239
Algeria11817614041
Angola108696976
Antigua and Barbuda11
Argentina231231407789
504532448435
Australia4784286998002242
Austria2,8802,6012,8962,2991127
Azerbaijan180220216249
Bahamas51
Bahrain1
Bangladesh1261,2082,0001,334
Barbados101
Belarus88281269188159
Belgium3,3584,6944,3883,4592511
Belize211
Benin200937197319
Bermuda4
Bhutan21
Bolivia300256225183
Bosnia and Herzegovina1642215009351,511
Botswana18123
Brazil1,9031,8021,418881
Bulgaria675114733076908275
Burkina Faso214620891
Burundi1031333429
Cambodia8315306430
Cameroon5211190159345
Canada8622,0241,244136727
Cape Verde18192525
CAR11
Chad16942315
Chile113183169120
China1873674657519
Colombia207346320293
Comoros526
Congo26142674
DRC8218710996
Costa Rica93212917
Ivory Coast15481215316
Croatia4276140120
Cuba1391520
Czech Republic2022231461737608264
Denmark646621911081923
Dominican Republic1,209171813934
Ecuador2752780356276
Egypt5429618517393221366501
El Salvador219479079
Equatorial Guinea4312
Eritrea11131113
Estonia829172381169
Eswatini32
Ethiopia1,1271,5155421,610
Fiji16101116
Finland3043273423181
France638611108
Gabon21
Gambia5622130076
Georgia45957061,1571,874
Germany6,3197,54610,25113,574162296
Ghana1710226324355222
Greece7607,2909,3257,35738715
Grenada21
Guatemala219282825
Guinea1021312161142244270
Guinea-Bissau15556833
Guyana4132
Haiti1,2116751
Honduras3357395113
Hong Kong37114469
Hungary365414353491303471,099517
India68515415604530
Indonesia297955561175145184139
Iran4315501,3461,219
Iraq2,6672,4721,9301,280
Ireland40235934018810191512
Israel39336415
Italy5068489938672617721
Jamaica14171317
Japan472472
Jordan2551666899
Kazakhstan58207182147
Kenya543153756848
Kiribati1
South Korea241164557
Kosovo1,5691,3341,5421,546
Kuwait122
Kyrgyzstan8011912381
Laos1412
Latvia7389829425516
Lebanon1039560143
Liberia19153418
Libya17284721827508082
Liechtenstein5
Lithuania476543661211415
Luxembourg10197116186
Macau7
Macedonia1,9611,8722,5262,387
Madagascar59115
Malawi3831512
Malaysia36231144422021
Mali21875532173126
Malta2939557213
Mauretania18183514
Mauritius232377375831
Mexico1,1418971725201905645
Moldova387310248199213149
Mongolia14632527458541
Montenegro2612783174
Morocco440894981,158135523482416
Mozambique121197
Myanmar1154872137
Namibia223417
Nepal147202205136
Nauru501746
Netherlands3,4732,9052,4892,269111085
New Zealand2332
Nicaragua1213414232535
Niger7882615483130
Nigeria2623689914609
Norway1,8131,7531,8991,6225414
Oman1
Pakistan5864,3245,6063,860
Palestinian territories84604121
Panama115733
Papua New Guinea53177278312213
Paraguay474604975
Peru23149149183207
Philippines192132244198
Poland1,1497531,9491,46334655244
Portugal594753692412231516
Puerto Rico1
Qatar1
Réunion1
Romania131312197113198168140776
Russia12117102,5612,6075,0484,538
Rwanda32403521
Saint Kitts and Nevis1
Saint Lucia1133923
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines5212
Samoa1411
São Tomé and Príncipe1623147
Saudi Arabia145
Senegal11124201328283
Serbia2,9213,9173,9334,570
Seychelles111
Sierra Leone625293723
Singapore34111
Slovakia9554505751141181188
Slovenia1111201611101
Solomon Islands11
Somalia99011,0051413
South Africa19724748362038
South Sudan1512074
Spain8237857588891412921
Sri Lanka1205847409374
Sudan66276161216
Suriname32465658
Sweden789898638141210
Switzerland1,1302,2891,65547853
Syria7713
Taiwan14
Tajikistan74454977
Tanzania91258958475035
Thailand491325172422
East Timor11
Togo1832521267431
Tonga621
Trinidad and Tobago485
Tunisia925199278451609139
Turkey200569618495384371256276
Turkmenistan1889744
Turks and Caicos3
Uganda47625170
Ukraine1597221699677789970
UAE7182
UK874253415950
United States761373241
Uruguay107394233
Uzbekistan148200159190
Vanuatu15
Venezuela34344534
Vietnam1371215251179
Yemen12879433582711404629
Zambia3420844
Zimbabwe9035512

Notes and References

  1. News: Japan Pays Immigrants To Leave . . April 23, 2016.
  2. http://www.unhcr.org/449aa7c92.pdf Voluntary Repatriation
  3. Web site: THE 1969 AFRICAN REFUGEE CONVENTION: INNOVATIONS, MISCONCEPTIONS, AND OMISSIONS . 2017-01-22 . 2017-03-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170329124345/http://lawjournal.mcgill.ca/userfiles/other/5818395-581.art.Sharpe.pdf . dead .
  4. Julien. Brachet. Policing the Desert: The IOM in Libya Beyond War and Peace. Antipode. 48. 2. 2016. 272–292. 10.1111/anti.12176.
  5. Web site: HANDBOOK on VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION: INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION . UNHCR . 2023-12-16.
  6. Encinas. Monica. May 2016. Assisted Voluntary Return: implications for women and children. Forced Migration Review. 1. 84–86.
  7. Leekes. Arjen. November 2017. What drives 'soft deportation'? Understanding the rise in Assisted Voluntary Return among rejected asylum seekers in the Netherlands. Population Space and Place. 23.
  8. Lietaert. Ine. December 2017. From Social Instrument to Migration Management Tool: Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes - The Case of Belgium. Social Policy and Administration. 51. 7. 961–980. 10.1111/spol.12185.
  9. News: Denmark offers immigrants $21,000 to leave country . . November 10, 2009.
  10. News: Denmark woos immigrants . . November 10, 2009.
  11. News: Denmark offers immigrants £12,000 to return home . . November 10, 2009.
  12. News: Denmark offers immigrants €13K to return home . . November 10, 2009.
  13. News: France to Pay Immigrants to Return Home . . May 24, 2007.
  14. News: French government offers refugees and migrants €2,500 to 'voluntarily' deport themselves . . November 25, 2016.
  15. News: Germany to pay for migrants to go home . . December 9, 2016.
  16. News: Program paying asylum applicants to leave Germany voluntarily begins . . February 1, 2017.
  17. News: Germany to pay for migrants to go home . . February 3, 2017.
  18. News: Germany is offering rejected asylum seekers up to €3,000 to go home . . December 4, 2017.
  19. News: Germany, overrun, paying migrants to go home . . December 8, 2017.
  20. News: Germany offers refugees benefits in kind to return home . . December 3, 2017.
  21. News: We'll buy you a kitchen if you leave, Germany tells refugees . . December 4, 2017.
  22. News: Irish government to pay immigrants to go home . . November 14, 2009.
  23. News: African refugees in Italy 'told to go to Germany' . . May 28, 2013.
  24. News: Italy paid refugees €500 to leave for Germany . . May 28, 2013.
  25. News: Norway offers to pay asylum seekers £1000 bonus to leave the country . . April 26, 2016.
  26. News: Norway to offer refugees a bonus to return home . . April 26, 2016.
  27. News: Spain to pay immigrants to leave . . July 21, 2008.
  28. News: The Problem With Spain's Plan to Pay Migrants to Go Home . . March 5, 2011.
  29. News: Thousands of migrants paid by Swedish gov't to leave . . August 29, 2016.
  30. News: Fler återvändare till Irak . . 20 March 2009 . Christer . Lövkvist . sv.
  31. News: Sweden sees record numbers of asylum seekers withdraw applications and leave . . August 25, 2016.
  32. News: Switzerland seizing assets from refugees to cover costs . . January 15, 2016.
  33. News: Swiss, like Danes, seize assets from refugees to recoup costs - TV . https://web.archive.org/web/20180113035613/https://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFKCN0US2X620160114 . dead . January 13, 2018 . . January 14, 2016.
  34. News: Asylum seekers to be asked: will you leave for £3,000? . . January 13, 2006.
  35. Webber. Frances. April 2011. How voluntary are voluntary returns?. Race & Class. 52. 4. 98–107. 10.1177/0306396810396606. 144585504.
  36. Robinson. Kim. 2015. Leaving Care: Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Young Afghans Facing Return. Refuge. 31. 2. 85–94. 10.25071/1920-7336.40312. free.
  37. News: Ottawa to end contentious refugee return program . . January 22, 2015.
  38. News: Trump administration ends protections for more than 200,000 Salvadorans . . January 9, 2017.
  39. News: Israel taking money from asylum seekers' pay then returning it when they leave country . . July 6, 2016.
  40. News: Japan Pays Foreign Workers to Go Home . . April 22, 2009.
  41. Web site: 2014 Statistical Yearbook: Table of Contents for the Excel Annex tables . ZIP . Unhcr.org . 2016-03-13.
  42. Web site: 2013 Statistical Yearbook: Table of Contents for the Excel Annex tables . ZIP . Unhcr.org . 2016-03-13.
  43. Web site: 2012 Statistical Yearbook: Table of Contents for the Excel Annex tables . ZIP . Unhcr.org . 2016-03-13.
  44. Web site: 2011 Statistical Yearbook: Table of Contents for the Excel Annex tables . ZIP . Unhcr.org . 2016-03-13.
  45. Web site: 2010 Statistical Yearbook: Table of Contents for the Excel Annex tables . ZIP . Unhcr.org . 2016-03-13.
  46. Web site: ASSISTED VOLUNTARY RETURN AND REINTEGRATION . International Organization for Migration (IOM) . 2023-12-16.