3 ms·

I'm not really sure, but it looks like the number of illegal immigrants (through the Channel) soared this year, and that's not really possible to do anything to

I'm not really sure, but it looks like the number of illegal immigrants (through the Channel) soared this year, and that's not really possible to do anything to stop them or send them back for some reason.

kawhah 3y ago
It is still small in relation to population change though.
- jibbit 3y ago
  ~ 8%
- curtisblaine 3y ago
  I think it compounds though (most migrants stay and have children)
proaralyst 3y ago
Net legal migration was 672 000 people[0] whereas illegal migration was 45 000, 83% of which were small boats.[1] [0] https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/internationalmigration/bulletins/longterminternationalmigrationprovisional/yearendingjune2023 https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populati... [1] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/irregular-migration-to-the-uk-year-ending-september-2023/irregular-migration-to-the-uk-year-ending-september-2023 https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/irregular-migration...
gearhart 3y ago
This is true, but not the primary story here. Illegal immigration numbers are about 50k for the period, whilst legal immigration netted out (minus emigration) at about 500k for the period, and "natural growth" (i.e. births minus deaths) are about 45k. The story here is that we're letting in a lot more legal, non-EU immigrants than we have been previously, most of whom are coming here on work visas, or as dependents / carers. Whether you think this is a good thing or not is worth debating, but the media narrative that we're being "overrun by illegal immigrants" simply isn't a fair representation of the facts. Immigration increases are primarily driven by policy. Sources: - https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/irregular-migration-to-the-uk-year-ending-june-2023/irregular-migration-to-the-uk-year-ending-june-2023 https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/irregular-migration... - https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/internationalmigration/bulletins/longterminternationalmigrationprovisional/yearendingjune2023 https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populati...
- thejohnconway 3y ago
  Yes, a policy many in the Tory party like, because on net those immigrants are economically beneficial. But they can’t tell that to their base so they bang on about a small subset.
regularfry 3y ago
Can't send them back because that would mean processing asylum claims, and that can't be done without acknowledging that the majority of them are valid. Better to keep people in a legal limbo in ever-worsening conditions so voters can lie to themselves that "deterrence" is somehow valid, and that all we need to do is punch down harder.

kawhah 3y ago

It is still small in relation to population change though.

jibbit 3y ago
~ 8%
curtisblaine 3y ago
I think it compounds though (most migrants stay and have children)

proaralyst 3y ago

Net legal migration was 672 000 people[0] whereas illegal migration was 45 000, 83% of which were small boats.[1] [0] https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/internationalmigration/bulletins/longterminternationalmigrationprovisional/yearendingjune2023 https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populati... [1] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/irregular-migration-to-the-uk-year-ending-september-2023/irregular-migration-to-the-uk-year-ending-september-2023 https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/irregular-migration...

gearhart 3y ago

This is true, but not the primary story here. Illegal immigration numbers are about 50k for the period, whilst legal immigration netted out (minus emigration) at about 500k for the period, and "natural growth" (i.e. births minus deaths) are about 45k. The story here is that we're letting in a lot more legal, non-EU immigrants than we have been previously, most of whom are coming here on work visas, or as dependents / carers. Whether you think this is a good thing or not is worth debating, but the media narrative that we're being "overrun by illegal immigrants" simply isn't a fair representation of the facts. Immigration increases are primarily driven by policy. Sources: - https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/irregular-migration-to-the-uk-year-ending-june-2023/irregular-migration-to-the-uk-year-ending-june-2023 https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/irregular-migration... - https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/internationalmigration/bulletins/longterminternationalmigrationprovisional/yearendingjune2023 https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populati...

thejohnconway 3y ago
Yes, a policy many in the Tory party like, because on net those immigrants are economically beneficial. But they can’t tell that to their base so they bang on about a small subset.

regularfry 3y ago

Can't send them back because that would mean processing asylum claims, and that can't be done without acknowledging that the majority of them are valid. Better to keep people in a legal limbo in ever-worsening conditions so voters can lie to themselves that "deterrence" is somehow valid, and that all we need to do is punch down harder.