Border Externalisation: Pullback and Pushback Practices

Pushbacks and pullbacks are unlawful border control practices whereby migrants and asylum seekers are often forcibly returned at the sea or land borders without access to due process, in potential violation of international human rights and refugee law. These practices are typically deployed within the broader framework of externalised border management, aiming to intercept, deter, restrain, or reroute individuals before they can reach the territory of a destination country. When taking place outside a state’s territorial borders and/or in cooperation between countries and/or non-state actors, these measures fall within the realm of border externalisation. This policy brief builds upon the RLI Declaration on Externalisation and Asylum, and it outlines the legal implications of pushbacks and pullbacks in the context of externalisation. Pushbacks and pull backs raise serious legal and ethical concerns and often bypass established legal and humanitarian safeguards. Key challenges include unclear jurisdiction responsibility, minimal transparency, and weak enforcement, all of which contribute to systemic and persistent violations. Urgent reforms are needed to strengthen accountability mechanisms, enhance transparency, and ensure the protection of fundamental rights–essential for aligning with legal commitments under human rights and refugee law.