Thailand debates draft deportation regulation amid non-refoulement concerns

On 14 July, Thailand’s cabinet approved in principle a draft Prime Minister’s Office regulation on deportation. The draft is presented as a measure to reduce redundancy and accelerate the removal of individuals involved in illegal immigration, unauthorized employment, document fraud and serious criminal activity.

Human‑rights groups, including Asylum Access Thailand, warn that the draft provides no safeguards for asylum seekers, political activists or journalists fleeing repression. It lacks clear provisions to uphold the principle of non‑refoulement, which Thailand is bound to under the UN Convention Against Torture and its own Prevention and Suppression of Torture Act. Critics also note that the draft characterises international organisations and foreign states as failing to expedite resettlement, using language that could permit the return of protected persons to countries where they face risk of torture or other serious harm. The organizations have called for consultations with legal experts and civil‑society actors before the regulation is promulgated to ensure compliance with Thailand’s international human‑rights obligations.