Seventy-five civil-society organisations across Europe, among them Caritas Österreich and Diakonie Flüchtlingsdienst, have sounded the alarm over a draft EU regulation that seeks to accelerate the removal of undocumented migrants. In an open letter released on 16 February 2026 they argue that the proposal—now before the European Parliament’s Civil Liberties (LIBE) Committee—would blur the line between immigration enforcement and ordinary public services, effectively turning hospitals, schools and even train conductors into border guards.
The regulation would allow police to enter private premises without a judicial warrant when searching for persons with a final return order, obliges public authorities and transport operators to report undocumented individuals, and foresees transfers to third-country ‘return centres’ outside EU territory. Critics say the blueprint borrows heavily from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) tactics and risks fuelling racial profiling.
For Austria, which recorded 58,200 asylum applications in 2025, the stakes are high. The Interior Ministry already operates fast-track return procedures at Vienna Airport and mobile units at border hot-spots in Upper Austria and Styria. Human-rights lawyers warn that the new EU rules could require Austrian employers and landlords to perform status checks or face sanctions—adding compliance costs for companies that hire third-country nationals under the Red-White-Red card.
![Rights Groups—Including Austrian NGOs—Warn EU Deportation Plan Could Trigger ‘ICE-Style’ Raids]()
Amid these uncertainties, VisaHQ can serve as a practical buffer against inadvertent non-compliance. Through its Austria-focused platform (https://www.visahq.com/austria/), the service guides both private travellers and corporate mobility teams through visa eligibility checks, document preparation and deadline reminders, helping ensure that overstays or paperwork gaps are flagged well before a return order becomes a risk.
Business-travel managers are concerned, too. If the regulation passes in its current form, short-term assignees who accidentally overstay the 90/180-day Schengen limit could face on-the-spot detention, while carriers might be fined for transporting individuals lacking proper papers. Multinational employers with diverse workforces will need robust document-monitoring systems and staff training.
The LIBE vote is scheduled for March; Austrian MEPs from the ÖVP and FPÖ have signalled support, whereas the Greens and NEOS plan to oppose or amend the text. Companies with mobile talent in Austria should follow the legislative process closely and review their internal immigration-compliance protocols.
The regulation would allow police to enter private premises without a judicial warrant when searching for persons with a final return order, obliges public authorities and transport operators to report undocumented individuals, and foresees transfers to third-country ‘return centres’ outside EU territory. Critics say the blueprint borrows heavily from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) tactics and risks fuelling racial profiling.
For Austria, which recorded 58,200 asylum applications in 2025, the stakes are high. The Interior Ministry already operates fast-track return procedures at Vienna Airport and mobile units at border hot-spots in Upper Austria and Styria. Human-rights lawyers warn that the new EU rules could require Austrian employers and landlords to perform status checks or face sanctions—adding compliance costs for companies that hire third-country nationals under the Red-White-Red card.
Amid these uncertainties, VisaHQ can serve as a practical buffer against inadvertent non-compliance. Through its Austria-focused platform (https://www.visahq.com/austria/), the service guides both private travellers and corporate mobility teams through visa eligibility checks, document preparation and deadline reminders, helping ensure that overstays or paperwork gaps are flagged well before a return order becomes a risk.
Business-travel managers are concerned, too. If the regulation passes in its current form, short-term assignees who accidentally overstay the 90/180-day Schengen limit could face on-the-spot detention, while carriers might be fined for transporting individuals lacking proper papers. Multinational employers with diverse workforces will need robust document-monitoring systems and staff training.
The LIBE vote is scheduled for March; Austrian MEPs from the ÖVP and FPÖ have signalled support, whereas the Greens and NEOS plan to oppose or amend the text. Companies with mobile talent in Austria should follow the legislative process closely and review their internal immigration-compliance protocols.
