EU expulsion orders first half 2026 Algerians lead, France tops list, Digi Mart USA News: EU member states issued 225,155 orders to leave their territories to foreign nationals in an irregular situation during the first half of 2026, according to a report published by Visas & Voyages Algérie citing Eurostat data. Algerians received the most expulsion orders of any nationality, followed by Moroccans.
France issued the largest number of expulsion orders against non-EU nationals, surpassing all other European countries, including those governed by right-wing governments such as Italy. From January to June 2026, France issued a total of 67,300 obligations to leave French territory (OQTF) against third-country nationals.
Portugal followed far behind with 18,815 expulsion orders, ahead of Germany with 18,520, Spain with 17,100, the Netherlands with 15,665, Belgium with 13,810 and Italy with 9,575. The report notes that an expulsion order does not mean the person is actually removed to their country of origin, and the number of executed expulsions is very low compared with the number of orders issued.
In France, the country that issued the most OQTF in Europe, estimates place the rate of expulsions actually carried out during the same period at around 11 percent of total decisions. Across the EU, member states issued 225,155 removal decisions during the first six months of the year.
Eurostat data for the first two quarters of 2026 place Algerians first, with 21,495 expulsion orders (11,105 in the first quarter and 10,390 in the second). Moroccans came second with 12,635 orders, and Syrians third with 10,535 orders.
Although Algerians received the most orders, they do not appear in the ranking of foreigners actually removed. That ranking is led by Turks, with 7,320 executed expulsions in six months, followed by Georgians with 4,200.
