First launched in late 2022, the so-called High Level Network for Returns (HLNR) used the October 7 Hamas terror attack on Israel as a justification to enforce the exchange of data of individuals with a deportation order and flagged as “potential terrorists”.
You are absolutely right that Frontex is miles away from becoming ICE. There are illegal pushbacks nonetheless and we need some more oversight from external sources. Frontex has grown in recent years — it should not get out of control.