The rate of irregular migration from the Kurdistan Region has dropped significantly. This shift coincides with the tightening of European Union laws and the forced deportation of migrants back to Iraq and third-party countries.

Statistics on the Return and Deportation of Migrants

Peshraw Abdullah, representative for the Association of Returned Migrants in Europe, stated that since the beginning of 2026, a total of 487 Kurdish and Iraqi migrants have either been deported or returned voluntarily.

He noted that forced repatriations have increased from Germany, Sweden, Austria, Denmark, and Switzerland, resulting in family separations and children being separated from their parents.

Decline in Irregular Migration and Growth in Legal Migration

According to the data, irregular migration from the Kurdistan Region has decreased by 87% compared to previous years.

In contrast, legal migration for tourism and education purposes has increased, as most European countries have opened their universities to citizens of the Kurdistan Region.

Additionally, on a global scale, the total number of migrants entering Europe over the past six months has fallen to 39,000 people, representing a 60% decrease compared to last year.

New Legislation from the European Parliament

The European Parliament has approved a new legal provision requiring that all individuals whose international protection applications are rejected must be deported to their home countries.

The representative for returned refugees urged the Iraqi government to intervene and prevent family separations, arguing that forced repatriation under these measures violates international human rights laws.

Migration Repatriation Agreement with Uganda

Germany, Greece, Austria, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Malta have signed an agreement with Uganda.

Under this agreement, migrants whose home countries refuse to readmit them will be transferred to Uganda and placed in specialized camps. These measures are viewed as a key factor deterring migrants from taking irregular routes to Europe.