European Parliament backs controversial migrant ‘Return Hubs’

Lawmakers have approved plans to ease the creation of offshore detention centres and impose tougher penalties on irregular migrants, in a vote that exposed deep divisions over EU migration policy.

The European Parliament voted 389 to 206 on Thursday to adopt its position on the EU Return Regulation, paving the way for negotiations with member states.

The reform, backed by a coalition of centre-right and far-right groups, would allow EU…