🔥 Solidarity with migrants is under attack. We're launching a new project to fight this. With WING, we're joining six European civil society organisations to map cases of criminalisation of solidarity and to train people and organisations to respond to this threat.

🔥 European civil society has come out strong against the EU "Deportation Regulation". Together with over 200 organisations, our call is simple: EU lawmakers must reject it. Read the full statement: picum.org/blog/over-20...

The French Constitutional Court has ruled against the extension of immigration detention in France to up to 7 months. While a good step forward, other problematic points remain. Full comment by @lacimade.org.

🚨🎧 Keep your eyes on your podcast feeds, because we've got a NEW EPISODE coming SOON! In the meantime, listen to @picumofficial.bsky.social's Silvia in episode 74, and learn how 142 people (at least!) were criminalised for acting in solidarity with people-on-the-move last year 🎧🚨

In the Netherlands, police can't enter a church during service. When a family took shelter in the Kampen church to escape their deportation, people flocked to ensure the service never stops. It's now being going on for over 8 months 🥹 This is the Europe we love.

When Europe's focus is on "protecting borders", rights violations are bound to continue. With or without investigations.

For many undocumented people, decent housing remains an illusion. In the latest issue of @feantsa.bsky.social magazine, we write about how to move forward.

🚨 New episode! 🎧 @picumofficial.bsky.social's Silvia tells us how the EU criminalised at least 142 people for solidarity with migrants last year, how activists were harassed & spied on, and how 91 people faced criminal charges for crossing borders The Civil Fleet Podcast is on all podcast services

Immigration raids and criminalisation are not a US exclusive. We spoke to @voxeurop.bsky.social about what's happening in Europe.

The next EU Anti-Racism Strategy must face the racist roots and effects of much of our migration system. Read our full submission to the consultation on the 2026-2030 strategy: picum.org/wp-content/u...

Last week, the Dutch lower chamber passed a draft law that criminalises solidarity with migrants. Today, the @volkskrant.nl takes a look at what's happening in the rest of Europe and cites our report showing at least 142 people were criminalised in 2024 alone.

Since 1957, the European Social Fund has helped deliver quality jobs and further social inclusion. The EU must protect this mission in the next EU budget. We're proud to sign this joint statement led by @easpd.eu

In Switzerland, Caroline Meijers was brought to trial because she helped a person from Syria. She's now been acquitted and it's great news. Solidarity should be celebrated, not criminalised.

The Commission's push to deregulate and "simplify" is threatening protection standards and rights, from environmental to counter-smuggling rules. Our short contribution on the Financial Times today.

Today, the Dutch Parliament is set to vote on proposals by the far-right Party for Freedom (PVV), including an amendment criminalising help for undocumented people. Solidarity should be celebrated, not criminalised. Dutch MPs must reject this amendment.

💌 The European Parliament is getting ready to vote on a new law that threatens those of us who help others in need. Let's stop this. Find out how in thread.

In Switzerland, activist Caroline Meijers is being brought to justice because she helped a Syrian asylum-seeker. Her trial starts on 8 July.

Marjan Jamali was arrested on 28 October 2023, shortly after landing on the Calabrian coast with her eight-year-old son, on charges of migrant smuggling. She'd fled domestic violence and the repression of the Iranian regime. Finally, Marjan has been acquitted.

🚨 The European Commission failed to properly assess the impact of proposed new laws against migrant smuggling. With European Digital Rights, we filed a complaint to the European Ombudsman. Yesterday, we were informed an inquiry is being opened.

Proud to join calls to invest in children and protect them from social exclusion. The next EU budget must make this a priority.

Latest instance of criminalisation of solidarity with migrants: Civil rescue ship SEA-EYE 5 was detained by Italian authorities in the port of Pozzallo on 16 June, after the crew saved 65 people in distress in the Central Med.

Proud to join calls for the EU to withdraw the Deportation Regulation.

🔔 Want to gain experience on human rights in migration? We're hiring for 3 paid traineeships! 💙 2 Advocacy Trainees ⏰ Deadline: 22 June 💚 1 Events and Comms Trainee ⏰ Deadline: 25 June 📆 Sep 2025 - Feb 2026 🌍 Brussels, Belgium 📝 All info on the positions and how to apply on picum.org/join-us/

The fight is not over yet, but this is already good news from Hungary. We'll keep standing together with Hungarian civil society ❤️

Italian citizenship referendum: this weekend, Italy has a chance to change thousands of lives for the better and secure their residence status. We hope Italians will choose welcoming and belonging 💚🤍❤️

Important ruling from the EU Court of Justice on anti-smuggling laws and their harms on people. We hope this will pave the way for broader challenges to the criminalisation of migration and solidarity with migrants.

⏰ Last days to register!

Orban's latest attempt to silence Hungarian civil society is hitting people in our network too. Help us share this message from András Kováts, PICUM board member and director of migrants' rights NGO Menedék ❤️

Times aren't good for human rights. But resistance is happening all over Europe, and sometimes it's winning. In our latest newsletter, we highlight what we heard from activists, politicians, researchers at our General Assembly. 📖 Read 7z96.mjt.lu/nl3/gOSejMZ8... 💌 Sign up picum.org/newsletters/

When we talk about the criminalisation of solidarity with migrants, let's not forget that migrants themselves are being criminalised as "smugglers", often simply because they were on a vessel/vehicle. Latest example from Italy.

In Italy, six activists, including a doctor and a charity founder, are being accused of "migrant smuggling" because they helped 27 people adrift at sea in 2020. Sad to see the criminalisation of solidarity is alive and kicking.

2024 was hard. But we take strength from the incredible work of our members, and we are proud to support them to do it 💖 Read more in our Annual Report on picum.org/wp-content/u...

📣 FREE WEBINAR 📣 Join us and @borderviolence.bsky.social to discuss the latest trends in the criminalisation of movement and solidarity across Europe. Register on crm.picum.org/civicrm/even...

Sad to see our EU leaders coming together to undermine the very foundations of the EU: human rights and the rule of law. If they genuinely cared about people's safety and protecting victims, they should stop dismantling welfare systems, instead of scapegoating migrants for political gain.

Proud to sign this letter against Orban's latest attempt to silence civil society in Hungary. We stand with our Hungarian members and all groups affected.

The criminalisation of solidarity with migrants is rooted in the criminalisation of migrants themselves. Read more about findings from our report and from other civil society organisations on contextnewsroom.bsky.social

We're extremely concerned about the recent proposal from Hungarian Fidesz party to make the work and the very existence of many NGOs impossible. We stand in solidarity with migrants' rights NGO Menedék and with all groups affected. Help us share as we join calls for this proposal to be withdrawn ❤️

This proposal is a blow against people seeking protection and livelihood in Europe. We can expect families being separated and people being deported without appropriate judicial review to places they don't even know. This is no way of living up to Europe's values of human dignity and human rights.

When we feel hopeless, we think about all the people who keep working for a kinder and fairer Europe. Heartwarming and amazing to see many of our members at our last General Assembly ❤️

In Amsterdam, GPs have reached an agreement whereby each GP practice accepts a number of undocumented patients per year. Civil society hopes this will make GP rejections a thing of the past.

Huge political momentum in Spain, as government is reportedly considering a popular petition to grant residence permits to some 400,000 undocumented people. If this passes, it will be thanks to the tireless work of Spanish civil society to make Spain a place where undocumented people belong too.

The criminalisation of migration and solidarity with migrants is soaring across Europe. We spoke to Open Migration about our latest report.

💰 Can you imagine if the EU spent billions in caring for people, leaving no one behind? Below are our key priorities for the future EU budget 💙

Sad to see a UN agency welcoming the proposed Returns Regulation – a proposal which will only serve to usher in a massive detention and deportation regime (including of children) leading to human rights violations inside and outside the Union.

The European Commission has drawn a colourful and misleading infographics for something (the EU Migration Pact) that will push people into danger and precarity. We tell you more in thread.

Another Europe is possible. Today, we celebrate all those who work and fight to make Europe a just and welcoming place for all.

🍦 Ice-creams and human rights? We're happy and proud to announce our new cooperation with Ben and Jerry's to protect two of the most human things we share: moving for a better life and helping others in need. ❤️

People facing trial and jail time because they helped others in need is not new. But this thing isn't going away, on the contrary. With precious allies, we're working to make sure a new EU law (the new Facilitation Directive) protects people from this criminalisation.

Our report on the criminalisation of migration and solidarity focuses on EU member states. But the issue is very much present in other European countries too. As we write, volunteer Caroline Meijers is being prosecuted in Switzerland for helping a person from Syria.

Good to see our latest report is bringing some visibility to the criminalisation of migration and solidarity with migrants. We're now working with allies and partners to make sure a new EU law protects people from such criminalisation.