UN official warns EU on ‘hotspot’ migrant triage

The UN human rights chief has urged the European Union to make sure that registration centers designed to handle a migrant and refugee influx don't become "detention centers in disguise."

Zeid Raad al-Hussein's office said Tuesday the EU needs to move away from the "flawed view" that law enforcement is the answer to managing the crisis. The UN estimates more than 500,000 migrants and refugees have crossed the Mediterranean this year.

A day before a meeting of EU Home and Justice ministers, Zeid took aim at EU "hotspot" registration centers. They are supposed to distinguish refugees fleeing war and persecution from other migrants – like those seeking economic opportunity.

He called for more legal channels to entry and said increased border controls have only driven people toward more dangerous routes. [AP]