Every year, thousands of people are ordered to leave Europe. Yet only about 1 in 5 actually return. This gap between policy intent and real-world outcomes is one of the most significant challenges in migration governance today. This video presents research from the FAiR project, based on analysis of forced and voluntary return migration across 31 European countries. The findings examine not only what governments do, but how people live, decide, and respond. The FAiR project shares insights into the deeper forces shaping return outcomes—economic uncertainty, political trust, cultural ties, and personal dignity.
