Assisted return of irregular migrants and rejected asylum seekers has become an important tool of migration control. European destination states have invested massively over the last decade in assisted return, framing such return programmes in the humanitarian language of ‘helping’ migrants to ‘come home’ and ‘facilitating their reintegration’ there.
This language is carefully crafted. Labelled ‘assisted voluntary return and reintegration programmes’ (AVRRs), such programmes incentivise compliant return as an alternative to deportation, and then present it as voluntary. In 2016, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) offered return assistance to more than 98,000 migrants worldwide through assisted return programmes. This is the highest number of what the IOM calls ‘AVRR beneficiaries’ during the last 15 years. The ‘assistance’ given through AVRRs is budgeted by states as developmental aid, although there is little evidence of any positive developmental impact.
The type and scope of return and reintegration assistance varies widely across funding states. It can include plane tickets, financial support, counselling and information by the IOM or staff at the asylum reception centre, as well as in-kind (non-cash) assistance to set up a small business in the country of origin. Other types of support, like for housing, medical assistance, or education, are comparatively rare.
