The UK Home Office today released immigration and asylum statistics. The immigration statistics cover migration from Eastern Europe, asylum applications, removals, and voluntary departures and statistics show a dramatic decline in migration due to global recession, tougher immigration laws, and stricter enforcement.
Work applications from the eight accession countries, namely Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia and the Czech Republic, have fallen to the lowest level since 2004 – when these eight countries joined the European Union.
In the first three months of 2009 there were 23,000 applications from workers of the above mentioned countries — down from 48,755 in the same period in 2008. The decrease is mainly explained by a drop in Polish applicants, which fell to 12,000 in the first quarter of 2009 from 32,000 in the same period in 2008.
The Bulgarian and Romanian Accession Statistics show that applications from these two countries have also fallen to the lowest level since they joined the EU in 2007. There were 610 applications for accession worker cards and 6,205 applications for registration certificates in the first quarter of 2009.
The Control of Immigration Statistics show that between January and March this year 15,840 people who had no right to be here were removed from the country or departed voluntarily. In the same period in 2008 16,760 people were removed or departed voluntarily.
These statistics also show that the United Kingdom continues to receive fewer asylum applications per head of the population than many of its European counterparts.
Border and Immigration Minister Phil Woolas said, “Our border has never been stronger. Last year we prevented over 28,000 individual attempts to cross the Channel illegally and the number of illegals found in Kent fell by nearly 90 per cent.
We are making the United Kingdom a more hostile place for illegal immigrants through our tough civil penalties regime which has seen fines worth a potential £18 million issued to businesses that have employed people with no right to work.”
The UK Home Office today released immigration and asylum statistics. The immigration statistics cover migration from Eastern Europe, asylum applications, removals, and voluntary departures. The statistics released show a dramatic decline in migration due to global recession, tougher immigration laws, stricter enforcement, and individuals desiring to return to their home countries.
Work applications from the eight accession countries, namely, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia and the Czech Republic, have fallen to the lowest level since 2004 – when these eight countries joined the European Union.
In the first three months of 2009 there were 23,000 applications from workers of the above mentioned countries — down from 48,755 in the same period in 2008. The decrease is mainly explained by a drop in Polish applicants, which fell to 12,000 in the first quarter of 2009 from 32,000 in the same period in 2008.
The majority of workers coming from the A8 countries in the twelve months to March 2009 are young – 78 per cent were aged between 18 and 34 -and only eight per cent stated they had dependants living with them in the United Kingdom when they registered.
The Bulgarian and Romanian Accession Statistics show that applications from these two countries have also fallen to the lowest level since they joined the EU in 2007. There were 610 applications for accession worker cards and 6,205 applications for registration certificates in the first quarter of 2009.
The Control of Immigration Statistics show that between January and March this year 15,840 people who had no right to be here were removed from the country or departed voluntarily. In the same period in 2008 16,760 people were removed or departed voluntarily.
Statistics also show that the United Kingdom continues to receive fewer asylum applications per head of the population than many of its European counterparts.
Border and Immigration Minister Phil Woolas said, “Our border has never been stronger. Last year we prevented over 28,000 individual attempts to cross the Channel illegally and the number of illegals found in Kent fell by nearly 90 per cent. We are making the United Kingdom a more hostile place for illegal immigrants through our tough civil penalties regime which has seen fines worth a potential £18 million issued to businesses that have employed people with no right to work.”
