ABSTRACT
This article introduces a reflection that examines the reasons for which the meaning of ‘return’ has substantially changed over the last two decades while being equated with deportation or re-admission in EU policy. It is argued that this change of meaning has been detrimental to the exploration of the link between return, reintegration, and development. Today, critically questioning these powerful paradigms constitutes a daunting challenge for practitioners and researchers alike. To do so, we need to adopt a method that critically examines what current ‘return policies’ really address and prioritise on the ground. This contribution shows that comparing without equating return with removal is possible and necessary through the lens of migration cycles. It concludes by arguing that current ‘return’ policies fail to address the link between return, reintegration, and development. They also dismiss return migrants’ aspirations for social advancement.
