UN, Rights Groups Say EU-Turkey Migrant Deal May Be Illegal

European nations are trying to stop the flow of refugees fleeing conflict in the Middle East with tight border controls, and some leaders hope to return migrants who arrive by boats. A Turkish proposal to accept the return of some migrants in exchange for funding and visa-free travel for Turks could be illegal, warns the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. International law would require safeguards for the refugees. NGOs also criticized the plan: Amnesty International called the proposal a "death blow to the right to seek asylum" and Doctors without Borders described it as “inhumane,” report Stephanie Nebehay and Gabriela Baczynska for Reuters. “The aim is to persuade Syrians and others that they have better prospects if they stay in Turkey, with increased EU funding for housing, schools and subsistence.” European leaders suggest they are not obligated to accept refugees who travel after arriving in a safe place, including Turkey. More than a million migrants headed to Europe in 2015, and a final deal with Turkey is expected in mid-March. – YaleGlobal