Judgment in Case C-47/15: Sélina Affum v Préfet du Pas de Calais and Procureur général de la Cour d’appel de Douai

The Return Directive prevents a national of a non-EU country who has not yet been subject to the return procedure being imprisoned solely because he or she has entered the territory of a Member State illegally across an internal border of the Schengen area.

That is also the case where that national, who is merely in transit on the territory of the Member State concerned, is intercepted when leaving the Schengen area and is the subject of a procedure for readmission into the Member State from which he or she has come.

• Primary Source

Politico, 07.06.16: ECJ rules illegal migrants cannot be jailed http://www.politico.eu/article/ecj-rules-illegal-migrants-cannot-be-jailed-selina-affum/

Vote Leave: News, 07.06.16: Rogue European Court is a threat to our borders http://www.voteleavetakecontrol.org/rogue_european_court_is_a_threat_to_our_borders

BBC News, 07.06.16: EU Court rules no jail for illegal migrants http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-36469014

The Guardian, 07.06.16: Imprisoning woman trying to illegally enter UK was wrong, EU rules http://www.theguardian.com/law/2016/jun/07/france-wrong-imprison-ghanian-woman-enter-britain-illegaly-eu-court-rules

ESO: Background information: Advocate General’s Opinion in Case C-47/15. Sélina Affum v Préfet du Pas de Calais and Procureur général de la Cour d'appel de Douai http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-advocate-generals-opinion-in-case-c-47-15-selina-affum-v-prefet-du-pas-de-calais-and-procureur-general-de-la-cour-dappel-de-douai/

ESO: Information Guide: European Migration Challenges http://www.europeansources.info/record/information-guide-european-migration-challenges/

EurActiv, 07.06.16: EU court rules illegal migrants cannot be jailed http://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/eu-court-rules-illegal-migrants-cannot-be-jailed/

The Wall Street Journal, 07.06.16: EU Top Court Rulings on Migration Could Cause Stir http://blogs.wsj.com/brussels/2016/06/07/eu-top-court-rulings-on-migration-could-cause-stir/

Deutsche Welle, 07.06.16: EU's top court rules foreigners can't be jailed for illegal entry http://dw.com/p/1J1t0

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