Archive
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Inside one of Europe’s most hidden detention centres
The charity Collective Aid has published a report on Lukavica, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s only official immigration detention centre. Lukavica is hidden from public view even as there are extensive concerns about the conditions for detainees, legal opacity and a lack of accountability. This article, written for Statewatch by Anna Gruber, Advocacy Manager at Collective Aid, explains the documentation process behind the report and what Collective Aid has managed to learn about detention in Lukavica. Read More
Clear, hold, build: the UK’s new ‘neighbourhood’ policing strategy built on colonial military practice
The UK's new policing strategy, “Clear, Hold, Build”, has deep roots in colonial and military strategy. While it has been re-branded as a successful, community-centric approach, it has resulted in police targeting of some of society’s most marginalised groups. This historical analysis shows how its imperial doctrine represents an introduction of colonial military methods meant to dominate, rather than uplift, local communities. Read More
Border externalisation: Frontex and the EU’s global deportation regime
The latest issue of our bulletin on EU border externalisation policies includes: a "comprehensive" strategy document for a radically expanded Frontex deportation mandate, the EU sees more room to grow in Libya migration partnership, and an internal security strategy presentation hints at further intensifying of border control Read More
EU-US data exchange proposal in conflict with EU laws
Since December 2025, the European Union and the United States of America have been negotiating an agreement to exchange information for security screenings and identity verification related to border procedures and visa applications. The European Commission’s current proposal, published by Statewatch, manifestly violates EU law. It goes much further than their limited mandate for negotiation granted by the Council of the EU and against essential data protection safeguards set out by the European Data Protection Authorities. Anyone’s data exchanged under this proposed agreement could be used for a wide range of purposes. This includes preventing or arresting people travelling to the USA who have voiced opposition to US policies in Europe, or for automated discriminatory profiling of travellers, including EU citizens. Read More
Joint letter to challenge the delay and limited transparency surrounding the establishment of the AI Act Advisory Forum
Statewatch has co-signed a letter to the Head of AI's office to flag concerns surrounding the delay and limited transparecny surrounding the establishment of the AI Advisory Forum. Read More
Counterterrorism and children’s data: Child rights implications of data-driven technologies and migration policies
In a world where data is routinely shared across borders, children are at risk of lifelong consequences when their names are placed on security databases or watchlists. Whether children are used by armed groups, suspected of links to them, or who simply have family members involved, they may be screened by official authorities. This often involves recording and storing their sensitive personal data and can lead to them being flagged as a security risk. This article suggests ways to reduce these risks by integrating a child rights-based lens to counterterrorism work. Read More
Frontex uses border capacity review to argue its own value
A report from the EU’s border agency Frontex examines the border control capacity of individual member states as well as the EU as a whole. Aside from offering considerable information updates, including changing migration flows and improved operational capacities in some regions, the report also serves as a way for Frontex to tout its own value and remind member states of its continued relevance, ahead of an expected mandate review later in the year. Read More
Migration partnerships
ICMPD checks in about what it’s doing in Turkey // Enhanced migration cooperation with Lebanon and Libya // The ‘right to leave’ in an era of externalisation Read More
Deportation and readmission
The future of Frontex: a “comprehensive strategy” for deportations Read More