The Immigrant Times reporting from Europe
> Britain agrees return deal with Angola and Namibia
> Migration in the UK in 2025
> Germany attracts foreign inventors
> Asylum applications in EU down by 23%
Britain's Home Secretary (Interior Minister) Shabana Mahmood reiterated that visa restrictions would be imposed on the Democratic Republic of Congo if the government did not co-operate
BRITAIN
Britain agrees return deals with Angola and Namibia after threatening visa restrictions
December 2025: The UK government has reached agreements with the governments of Angola and Namibia to facilitate the return of their nationals who are in Britain without legal permission to remain.
Under the new arrangements, agreed following diplomatic pressure and the threat of visa restrictions, both African states have pledged to accept the repatriation of citizens deported from the UK, including those who have entered irregularly, overstayed visas or been refused asylum. The deals form part of a broader overhaul of Britain’s immigration system announced by the Labour government in November.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood welcomed the developments, stressing the government’s expectation that countries must ‘play by the rules’. She said that if a nation’s citizen has ‘no right to be here, they must take them back’, as Britain seeks to expedite the removal of those without legal status.
The agreements are the first major outcome of sweeping asylum reforms announced in November 2025, aimed at making refugee status temporary, shortening paths to removal and strengthening deportation powers for those arriving without documentation. Refugee protections will now be subject to regular review, and those deemed safe to return to their homeland may be required to leave.
As part of the same initiative, the UK has imposed visa sanctions on the Democratic Republic of the Congo after that government failed to cooperate on return procedures, revoking fast-track and preferential visa processing for its nationals.
​
COMMENT
​
FOLLOW
Instagram || TikTok || X(Twitter) || Thread || Facebook || BlueSky || Mastodon || LinkedIn ||
​
BRITAIN
In 2025, migration shaped the UK’s domestic political debate
Extracts from the Migration Observatory’s annual review*
December 2025: The Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford has compiled a roundup of the UK’s biggest migration moments, highlighting numerous policy announcements, shifts in net migration, and a focus on issues that previously didn’t play much of a role in the debate, like crime and asylum accommodation.
January
The introduction of the Border Security Bill repealed the previous Conservative government’s Rwanda policy and many of the provisions of the Illegal Migration Act that prevented the processing of asylum claims. It introduced ‘counter-terror’ powers to challenge people smuggling, including increased penalties for assisting illegal immigration.
February
February’s Home Office (Interior Ministry) migration statistics showed a big reduction in the number of visas issued in 2024. While these falls were mainly driven by policies introduced by the previous government to tackle a dramatic rise in legal immigration, a rise created mainly by a series of liberalisations introduced by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s administration, they were maintained by the Labour Party after the July 2024 election. In May, the Office for National Statistics confirmed that net migration had declined from 860,000 to 430,000.
May
The Immigration White Paper, published in May, outlined a raft of measures designed to reduce migration to the UK, largely completing the process of rolling back the post-Brexit immigration liberalisations. The White paper proposed increases in the time it would take for many migrants to get settlement in the UK, increased language requirements, and measures to restrict the scope of human rights immigration routes.
July
In July, the UK announced its new ‘one in one out’ deal with France, a move that the government hoped would deter small boat arrivals. A series of work-related restrictions came into force, notably an increase in the salary threshold for skilled work visas to £41k, the removal of some middle-skilled jobs from the work visa system, and the closure of the care route to overseas recruitment.
August
There were a number of protests outside asylum hotels, which led to a wider debate about the link between migration and crime.
September
September brought the announcement of a new digital ID for everyone legally resident in the UK that would be used to consolidate access to government services and ensure migrants have the right to work.
November
Net migration statistics were published, showing a continued decline to 204,000 in the year ending June 2025, a 78 per cent fall and a return to pre-Brexit levels. November’s data also showed that the ‘appeals backlog’, mainly made up of people who have been refused asylum and appealed against the decision, is now overtaking the initial decisions backlog.
A White Paper on asylum proposed a ‘Danish style’ approach, making it harder for refugees to settle in the UK permanently. Changes to the asylum system and human rights rules aim to process legal challenges and appeals more quickly, making it harder for people to challenge their removal.
A consultation was also announced on settlement rules. The proposals include a shorter path to permanent status for the highest-paid migrants. In contrast, migrants who entered illegally, overstayed a visa, or claimed benefits would remain on temporary statuses for longer, up to 20 or 30 years. The government also plans to restrict access to welfare benefits for people with permanent status but not citizenship.
* The Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford provides independent, authoritative, evidence-based analysis of data on migration and migrants in the UK.
​
COMMENT
​
FOLLOW
Instagram || TikTok || X(Twitter) || Thread || Facebook || BlueSky || Mastodon || LinkedIn ||
​
WORLD
Migration: A story of opportunity, human progress and shared development
A statement by the International Organisation for Migration
​
December 2025: Each year, on 18 December, the world observes International Migrants Day (IMD). To mark the occasion, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), an UN-related organisation, is reaffirming migration as a story of opportunity, human progress, and shared development and calling for stronger, more robust migration systems that protect people on the move and support the communities that welcome them.
The day recognises the contributions of migrants worldwide and underscores the importance of protecting their rights and dignity. In 2025, the Day is marked under the theme My Great Story: Cultures and Development, highlighting how human mobility enriches societies, drives economic growth, and strengthens connections across communities.
“Migration is woven into the lives of families and communities everywhere. It is a story of courage, determination, and the ties that bind us across borders,” said IOM Director General Amy Pope. “Today, we honour the people who set out in search of safety and opportunity and call for global solidarity in shaping fair and inclusive systems that protect them. When migration is managed with dignity and purpose, it benefits everyone.”
Every migrant carries a personal story of hope, courage, and the desire for a better life. When systems protect people along their journey, those stories can unfold safely. Today, an estimated 304 million people, or nearly 4 per cent of the global population, live outside their country of birth. This number has grown steadily as people move for work, safety, education, and family.
Migrants contribute in many ways to the communities where they live and work, bringing skills, creativity, and entrepreneurship that strengthen local economies. Labour migrants support essential sectors including healthcare, construction, agriculture, and technology, providing vital assistance in countries with aging populations.
Their earnings also sustain families back home. In 2024, migrants sent an estimated USD 905 billion in international remittances, most of which went to middle and low-income countries. These transfers help households cover food, education, and medical care and in many cases exceed the value of foreign aid and investment flows.
Beyond these financial contributions, migrants also enrich the social and cultural fabric of communities. They carry new ideas, foster cultural exchange, build business networks, and spark innovation, benefiting both their countries of origin and the places where they settle.
Yet migration is shaped by growing challenges. By the end of 2024, 83.4 million people were internally displaced due to conflict, violence, and disasters, while new emergencies continued to push communities beyond their coping capacity.
While most migration takes place safely and regularly, many people still face serious risks when crossing borders, particularly where regular pathways are limited. People who must flee suddenly often have few options and may turn to irregular routes. These journeys can involve dangerous sea and desert crossings, exploitation, and limited access to assistance and protection. The Mediterranean Sea remains one of the deadliest migration routes, with more than 33,000 recorded deaths since 2014.
Every migrant’s journey is different, but the need for safety and dignity is universal. By strengthening systems that support people at every stage of mobility, countries can unlock the developmental dividends of migration and uphold the rights and well-being of every person on the move.
​
COMMENT
​
FOLLOW
Instagram || TikTok || X(Twitter) || Thread || Facebook || BlueSky || Mastodon || LinkedIn ||
​
GERMANY / EU / USA
German Chancellor rebukes the US over unfounded intervention in European migration policy
November 2025: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has sharply criticised the United States for what he described as unwarranted interference in Europe’s migration debates, following revelations that Washington has instructed its diplomats to promote tougher immigration controls across the continent.
According to a recently disclosed US diplomatic cable, American embassies, consulates and missions in Europe have been directed to raise alarms about ‘violent crimes associated with people of a migration background’ and to encourage partner governments to take a more restrictive line on migration. The cable frames mass migration as a potential driver of sexual offences, human rights violations, and a weakened rule of law.
Media reporting indicates that the dispatch also warns of the spread of radical Islam and suggests that migrant communities could contribute to increases in antisemitic or anti-Christian incidents, assertions not accompanied by supporting data in the document.
Chancellor Merz dismissed the US messaging as an inappropriate intrusion into Europe’s internal political processes. “We are also in the process of formulating a new common European asylum and immigration policy,” Merz said. “These discussions must take place here in Europe, guided by evidence, not by pressure from outside.”
European officials familiar with the cable have described parts of it as containing racially charged and Islamophobic talking points intended for use by US diplomats in meetings with European governments. These include suggestions that migration threatens social stability and religious coexistence, claims that critics say echo longstanding far-right rhetoric in Europe and the United States.
In its coverage of the cable, Reuters reported that the US State Department provided no evidence to support its assertions regarding crime or radicalisation.
​
COMMENT
​
FOLLOW
Instagram || TikTok || X(Twitter) || Thread || Facebook || BlueSky || Mastodon || LinkedIn ||
​
BRITAIN
Research suggests that immigration is not a major worry for most Britons
Only a quarter of Britons say immigration is among the top three issues facing their community
November 2025: A new study by ‘Best for Britain’ *, based on a ‘YouGov’ poll of 4,368 adults conducted between 5-10 September 2025, suggests that while immigration is often cited as a major national issue, it is far less salient for most people when they consider what matters in their own community.
Key findings
• 52% of respondents identified immigration and asylum among the top three issues facing the country.
• However, only 26% said the same when asked about the most important issues facing their local community.
• When local priorities were ranked, immigration slid to seventh place, behind cost of living, health, the economy, crime, housing and jobs.
• Among specific voter groups: fewer than half (43%) of former Labour voters now considering voting for the anti-immigrant Reform UK party saw immigration as a top local issue; just 8% of current Labour voters and 6% of Green supporters did so.
• Regarding legal migration: only 19% of all respondents said too much legal migration was a top concern. Among Labour’s 2024 coalition, it was 11%. Even among those planning to vote for Reform UK, the figure was 45%.
‘Best for Britain’s’ Executive Director of Policy and Research, Tom Brufatto, said: “The data clearly demonstrates that media exposure and political discourse are fanning the flames of anti-immigration sentiment in the UK, causing the government to lose support both to its right and left flank simultaneously.”
The report concludes that themes of cost of living, energy bills, inflation and the economy are far more unifying across party lines than immigration, which remains divisive and less rooted in personal experience for most people.
Fazit
Although immigration remains a headline concern at the national level, for many Britons, it is not among the top issues facing their local community. The study by Best for Britain suggests that voters are more concerned with the cost of living, health and economy, and that immigration may be amplified in media and political discourse more than felt in everyday experience.
* ‘Best for Britain’ is a research and campaigning organisation, based in London.
​
COMMENT
​
FOLLOW
Instagram || TikTok || X(Twitter) || Thread || Facebook || BlueSky || Mastodon || LinkedIn ||
​
UNITED KINGDOM
British MPs condemn chaotic use of hotels for refugees as costs soar past £15 billion
A new parliamentary report accuses the UK Home Office of waste and mismanagement in asylum housing, warning that reliance on hotels has become endemic, rather than temporary.
October 2025: A cross-party committee of UK Members of Parliament (MPs) has sharply criticised the Home Office (Interior Ministry) for what it calls a “failed and chaotic” approach to asylum accommodation, revealing that the cost of housing refugees in hotels and other temporary sites has spiralled into the billions.
In the report, the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee said the department’s reliance on hotels, originally intended as a short-term measure, has become entrenched, costly, and poorly managed, with inadequate oversight of private contractors and serious concerns about conditions for asylum seekers.
The Committee found that the projected cost of asylum accommodation contracts between 2019 and 2029 has more than tripled, from £4.5 billion to £15.3 billion. As of June 2025, around 103,000 people were being housed under Home Office arrangements, more than double the number in 2018.
Although the number of asylum seekers in hotels has fallen from a peak of over 50,000 to around 32,000, MPs said the system still represents a “de facto dependency” on hotel use rather than the emergency measure it was meant to be.
The report accuses the Home Office of mismanaging its major accommodation contracts, known as the Asylum Accommodation and Support Contracts (AASC), by awarding large regional monopolies to a handful of providers without sufficient competition or commercial oversight.
MPs said the department “lacked the capacity” to manage these complex contracts effectively, failed to enforce key performance indicators, and did not adequately monitor providers’ delivery standards. In some cases, companies were allowed to retain millions in “excess profits” before the Home Office began attempts to reclaim them.
The Committee described the approach as a “waste of public money” and called for urgent reforms to ensure value for taxpayers and dignity for those seeking refuge.
MPs also raised concerns about the quality and suitability of hotel-based accommodation, warning that many sites are inappropriate for long-term residence, particularly for vulnerable people or families with children.
Local authorities have complained that decisions to place asylum seekers in hotels are often made without proper consultation, creating pressure on public services and fuelling community tensions in some areas.
The report also highlighted safeguarding failures, noting that “in too many cases the system has not adequately protected those it is meant to support.”
The UK’s Labour Government has pledged to end the use of hotels for asylum accommodation by 2029, part of a broader effort to reduce costs and move toward more sustainable, community-based housing. A Home Office spokesperson said the department was “already taking steps to improve contract management and expand alternative sites,” and that reforms to speed up asylum decisions would reduce reliance on temporary accommodation.
However, MPs warned that the 2029 target could prove unrealistic unless the Home Office invests in alternative housing capacity and clears the asylum backlog that has fuelled demand.
Commenting on the findings, analysts said the report exposes deep structural weaknesses in the UK’s asylum system.
“The use of hotels was meant to be a stopgap, but it became the backbone of the accommodation model,” said one migration policy expert. “This report shows how the lack of foresight and weak contract oversight have led to huge costs and human consequences.”
Charities working with refugees welcomed the report’s recommendations, urging the government to shift its focus from emergency accommodation to humane, long-term solutions. “There’s an opportunity now to reset the system, to put dignity, safety, and community integration at its heart,” one advocacy group said.
COMMENT
​
FOLLOW
Instagram || TikTok || X(Twitter) || Thread || Facebook || BlueSky || Mastodon || LinkedIn ||
​
GERMANY
Germany attracts an increasing number of foreign inventors, but the country must remain cosmopolitan
October 2025: Inventors with foreign roots are responsible for a growing proportion of patent applications in Germany. This means they are becoming increasingly important for the German economy. According to the German Economic Institute (IW) calculations, they accounted for around one in seven inventions (14%) in 2022. By way of comparison, in 2000, it was only one in twenty (5%).
Inventors from Eastern and Southern Europe make the largest contribution to patent activity in Germany. Arabic countries, including Turkey, follow in third place with around. Its share has quadrupled since 2000. Growth is particularly strong among people of Indian origin: Since the turn of the millennium, their patent applications have increased twelvefold.
Among immigrants, the proportion of female inventors is almost twice as high as among Germans (five per cent), at just under nine per cent. One reason for this is that in many countries of origin, women are more likely to choose STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) subjects, which leads to a particularly high number of patents. This also makes them particularly attractive to the German labour market.
Germany is ageing and, like other industrialised countries, is dependent on the immigration of well-educated people. “To compete for the brightest minds, fast and unbureaucratic procedures for entry and recognition of qualifications are necessary,” explains Alexandra Köbler, a researcher at the IW. A cosmopolitan environment is also crucial for attracting and keeping experts and their know-how.
​
BACK TO TOP​
COMMENT
​
FOLLOW
Instagram || TikTok || X(Twitter) || Thread || Facebook || BlueSky || Mastodon || LinkedIn ||
​
BRITAIN
British refugee charities report of a surge in threats to staff and offices
October 2025: In recent months, refugee and asylum support organisations across Britain have reported a disturbing rise in threats, abuse, and targeted harassment. From credible death threats to the installation of safe rooms and the relocation of entire offices, the sector is under siege. In recent weeks, staff at multiple charities have reported receiving death threats, racial abuse, and graphic harassment, forcing some to relocate offices, install panic alarms, and advise workers to conceal their identities in public.
The escalation, charity leaders warn, is not isolated. It reflects a broader climate of hostility fuelled by inflammatory political discourse and emboldened far-right activism. According to reports from The Guardian, the radio broadcaster LBC, and Parliament Politics Magazine, staff at refugee charities have been subjected to racial intimidation, graphic sexualised abuse, and physical threats. Women working in the sector have been particularly targeted, with some organisations advising staff not to wear ID badges in public due to safety concerns
The threats are not just verbal. In some cases, charities have been forced to shut down offices, relocate operations, or invest in panic alarms and reinforced security. One organisation described the situation as becoming the ‘new normal’ in the wake of riots and protests outside asylum accommodation sites.
While the British Labour government has publicly committed to a more humane migration policy, charity leaders warn that the rhetoric surrounding asylum and deportation remains dangerously inflammatory. Some point to recent proposals for a streamlined deportation service and increased surveillance of migrant communities as contributing factors. “The language of politics is becoming the language of hate,” one director told The Guardian, urging ministers to take a firmer stand against extremist narratives.
A 2025 sector-wide survey by the UK-based Migration Exchange found that nearly half of refugee-focused NGOs had experienced direct threats or harassment since the summer of 2024. Many now operate under heightened security protocols, with some staff receiving trauma support and legal guidance.
Despite these challenges, the sector continues to serve tens of thousands of asylum seekers, refugees, and undocumented migrants. But leaders are calling for urgent action: stronger protections for staff, clearer condemnation of hate speech, and recognition of the sector’s vital role in upholding Britain’s humanitarian commitments.
​
BACK TO TOP​
​
FOLLOW
Instagram || TikTok || X(Twitter) || Thread || Facebook || BlueSky || Mastodon || LinkedIn ||
​
EUROPEAN SUMMIT
European summit stressed a humanitarian approach but emphasised the need for controlling immigration
October 2025: On 2 October 2025, leaders from 18 European nations gathered in Copenhagen for the European Political Community Summit, a high-level meeting that placed migration squarely at the heart of European cooperation. The summit’s final communiqué struck a careful balance, emphasising the need for mutually beneficial partnerships with origin and transit countries, alongside a firm crackdown on smuggling networks and irregular arrivals.
“Europe must remain a place of refuge for those in genuine need, but we must also protect the integrity of our asylum systems,” said Magnus Brunner, EU Migration Commissioner, underscoring the summit’s dual emphasis on humanitarian protection and controlling immigration.
The summit’s ‘whole-of-route’ approach included development aid, education, and voluntary returns, coordinated with IOM (International Organisation for Migration) and UNHCR (UN Refugee Agency). Leaders pledged to forge ‘new and innovative partnerships’ to accelerate processing and alleviate domestic pressures, according to the joint statement.
Yet critics warn that such partnerships risk outsourcing responsibility and obscuring the lived realities of migrants themselves. While the summit’s tone leaned heavily on enforcement, some voices offered a more inclusive vision.
“Europe’s credibility depends on its ability to attract and retain talent and skills,” said Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission. “Failing to manage migration fairly undermines public trust in an open society.”
Even Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, a summit co-chair known for her security-first stance, acknowledged the need for ‘fair and regulated’ migration systems that uphold European humanitarian values, values that benefit and protect host countries and newcomers.
“We cannot build trust by building walls,” added a civil society representative from Italy, speaking outside the summit. “Partnership must mean protection, not just prevention.”
​
BACK TO TOP​
​
FOLLOW
Instagram || TikTok || X (Twitter) || Thread || Facebook || BlueSky || Mastodon
​
GERMANY / NRW
Anti-immigrant, far-right party defeated in Germany’s most populous state
September 2025: In a striking affirmation of democratic resilience, voters across North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Germany’s most populous state, denied the far-right, anti-immigrant Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party control of any mayoral office in Sunday’s (28 September 2025) local elections, even as the party reached runoffs in three cities for the first time.
The results mark a critical moment for Germany’s urban electorate, where mainstream, centrist parties, particularly the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Social Democratic Party (SPD), held firm against rising populist rhetoric. The CDU captured Dortmund, ending nearly eight decades of Social Democratic leadership, while the SPD won in key cities including Cologne and Gelsenkirchen. The Greens held Münster.
AfD candidates were defeated in all three runoff contests, in Gelsenkirchen, Duisburg and Hagen, despite a surge in support that nearly tripled their 2020 vote share. The AfD achieved its best result in Gelsenkirchen, where its candidate was supported by 33 per cent of voters. In Hagen the party received 28 per cent, while in Duisburg, its share of the vote stood at 21 per cent.
Analysts say the party’s failure to secure executive mandates reflects a broader public resistance to far-right governance, especially in cities shaped by migration, diversity, and integration efforts.
“This wasn’t just a vote for parties, it was a vote for pluralism,” said Dr Leyla Mertens, a migration policy researcher based in Bonn. “Urban voters sent a clear message: they want leadership that reflects social cohesion, not division.”
The elections also saw increased turnout, suggesting that debates around migration, housing, and local governance are mobilising voters across generational and cultural lines. For many communities, the results reaffirm a commitment to inclusive politics, even as national discourse grows more polarised.
Mayoral results from NRW’s largest cities
Köln (Cologne):
Torsten Burmester (SPD) was elected mayor with 53,5% of the vote.
Düsseldorf:
Stephan Keller (CDU) was elected mayor with 60.8% of the vote.
Dortmund:
Alexander Omar Kalouti (CDU) was elected mayor with 52.9% of the vote.
Essen:
Thomas Kufen (CDU) was elected mayor with 57.1% of the vote.
Duisburg:
Sören Link (SPD) was elected mayor with 78.6% of the vote.
Wuppertal:
Miriam Scherff (SPD) was elected mayor with 74.6% of the vote.
Bochum:
Jörg Lukat (SPD/Grüne) was elected mayor with 64.7% of the vote.
Bielefeld:
Christiana Bauer (CDU) was elected mayor with 51.4% of the vote.
Bonn:
Guido Déus (CDU) was elected mayor with 54.0% of the vote.
Münster:
Tilman Fuchs (Greens) was elected mayor with 57.9% of the vote.
Gelsenkirchen:
Andrea Henze (SPD) was elected mayor with 66.9% of the vote.
Aachen:
Tim Grüttemeier (CDU) was elected mayor with 62.5% of the vote.
Hagen:
Dennis Rehbein (CDU) was elected mayor with 71.7% of the vote..
Leverkusen:
Stefan Hebbel (CDU) was elected mayor with 56.6% of the vote.
BACK TO TOP​
​
FOLLOW
Instagram || TikTok || X (Twitter) || Thread || Facebook || BlueSky || Mastodon
​​
​​​​
GREECE
Local authorities on Crete cannot cope with this year’s surge in refugees
September 2025: Crete, Greece’s largest island and a major tourist destination, is facing a dramatic surge in refugee and migrant arrivals, with over 7,000 people landing between January and late June 2025, marking a threefold increase compared to 2024. The influx has been driven by a shift in smuggling routes from Turkey to Libya’s eastern coast, where traffickers operate under the influence of Libyan warlord Gen. Khalifa Haftar, who uses migrants as political pawns.
The Greek government, led by Migration Minister Thanos Plevris, has responded with a hardline stance, calling the situation an ‘invasion’ and declaring a state of emergency. In July, Greece suspended asylum applications for three months, threatening detention or deportation for all new arrivals, regardless of origin. This move has sparked fierce backlash from human rights groups and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), raising concerns about violations of international law and the principle of not forcibly returning refugees.
Locally, tensions are also rising. Residents near Heraklion padlocked the gates of a former military base to protest its conversion into a refugee camp. Informal reception centres, such as abandoned warehouses and exhibition halls, are overcrowded and unsanitary, with migrants describing conditions as hell.
According to local authorities, conditions in the overcrowded camp in Agia near Chania, which was originally intended only for short stays, are unacceptable: mattresses on the floor, inadequate sanitary facilities, lack of air conditioning and the spread of skin diseases characterise the situation, complains the coast guard officers' union. The mood among the migrants is said to be increasingly tense.
Despite increased naval patrols and cooperation with Libyan authorities, the crisis continues to strain Greece’s asylum system, challenge EU migration policy, and threaten Crete’s tourism economy.
Three common countries of origin of refugees arriving in Greece by sea between January and the end of July 2025
From Afghanistan: 6,100 (26%)
From Egypt: 5,800 (25%)
From Sudan: 4,000 (17%)
Source: UNHCR
​
​
FOLLOW
Instagram | TikTok | X (Twitter) | Thread | Facebook | BlueSky | Mastodon |
​​
EUROPEAN UNION
Asylum applications in Europe fell by a quarter. Most asylum seekers came from Venezuela
September 2025: Asylum applications in the European Union (EU) fell by 23 per cent in the first half of 2025 compared to the previous year. This is according to a report by the EU Asylum Agency (EUAA).
According to the report, 399,000 asylum applications were received by EU countries, Switzerland and Norway by the end of June. According to the report, the drastic decline is less attributable to ‘political changes in the EU,’ according to the EUAA. Rather, it is a direct consequence of the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.
For ten years, Syrians constituted the largest group among asylum seekers. Within a few months, their number fell by two-thirds to 25,000, according to the report. Most new arrivals came from Venezuela (49,000), followed by Afghanistan (42,000) and Syria. Only one in four applications was approved. By the end of June, no decisions had yet been made on more than 900,000 applications in the first instance.
For the first time, Germany was no longer the main destination for asylum seekers. France received the most applications during the period in question, with around 77,000, just ahead of Spain and Germany (70,000). Except France, the numbers declined in all of the major destination countries: most significantly in Germany (down 43 per cent), but also in Italy (down 25 per cent) and Spain (down 13 per cent).
By 2024, the number of asylum applications in Europe had already fallen by around 12 per cent, although in 2023 it had still risen compared to the previous year.
Around 4.3 million Ukrainians who fled the Russian invasion also enjoy temporary protection in the EU. This is a measure separate from the asylum procedure.
Sources: European Union’s Asylum Agency (EUAA); Tagesschau
​
​
FOLLOW
Instagram | TikTok | X (Twitter) | Thread | Facebook | BlueSky | Mastodon |
​
UNITED KINGDOM
The British media is accused of inaccurate reporting of immigration cases involving the ECHR
September 2025: A report* published in September 2025 claims that the British media industry is sloppy in its reporting of immigration cases involving the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
The report’s authors systematically reviewed media reports that mentioned the ECHR between 1 January and 30 June 2025, analysing 379 news stories and opinion pieces. Around 75 per cent of these media reports focused on the ECHR’s role in immigration control, particularly appeals by foreign national offenders against deportation orders.
The report finds that immigration tribunal cases are frequently misreported. It highlights several high-profile examples of misleading coverage, including the so-called ‘chicken nuggets’ case – widely reported as the prevention of an individual’s deportation based on his child’s dislike of foreign food, despite the decision not being based on this detail and having already been overturned. These misrepresentations, the authors argue, risk eroding public confidence in the legal system and are fuelling calls to leave the ECHR based on misleading portrayals of the role and operation of the ECHR in the UK.
Professor Alice Donald, one of the report’s authors, explained: “Our findings show that much of the public discussion about the ECHR and immigration is not grounded in accurate reporting. For a debate of such importance, arguments must be based on evidence and a correct understanding of the law. Without this, public trust in the rule of law is placed at risk.”
The report also demonstrates that judgments by the European Court of Human Rights against the UK are very rare, and that the Court has only rarely held that the UK government has violated human rights in its immigration-related decisions and policies. Since 1980, the European Court of Human Rights has found against the UK in only 13 removal cases, and just four of those concerned family life. In relation to immigration rules more broadly, the Court has only three times ruled that the UK’s immigration rules violate the ECHR in the past 45 years. Suggestions that the European Court of Human Rights ‘hinders’ the UK’s efforts to control immigration, the authors note, do not stand up to scrutiny.
The report warns: “Politicians, journalists and commentators may legitimately hold different views on immigration and human rights. But mischaracterising how the law operates does a disservice to the public. Evidence should be the foundation of any debate, whatever view one takes on the policy questions. This report is intended as a resource to support informed and balanced discussion.”
* The report, The European Convention on Human Rights and Immigration Control in the UK: Informing the Public Debate, was published by the Bonavero Institute of Human Rights based in Oxford University’s Faculty of Law.
​
​
FOLLOW
Instagram | TikTok | X (Twitter) | Thread | Facebook | BlueSky | Mastodon |
​
GERMANY
International students in Germany want to remain after graduation, but discrimination is a worry
By The Immigrant Times’ Education Editor
September 2025: International students who choose to study in Germany are generally satisfied with their decision, and the majority wish to remain in the country after graduation. According to research carried out by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)*, Three-quarters of the international students surveyed also stated that Germany was their first choice for studying and reported being very satisfied with their studies. However, a number also reported experiencing discrimination in everyday life.
The reasons for choosing German universities are Germany's technological leadership in many areas, English-language degree programmes, attractive career prospects and low tuition and living costs compared to other countries. Four factors are decisive when choosing a university: course content, English-language courses, the university's reputation, and low or no tuition fees. About half the students surveyed are aiming for a long-term professional career in Germany, and many are even considering starting their own business.
On campus, 75 per cent of international students feel welcome or very welcome, while only two per cent do not feel welcome at all. In everyday life, however, many report problems – especially when it comes to finding accommodation, dealing with bureaucracy and interacting with fellow German students.
Around half of the students who contributed to the research reported occasional incidents of discrimination, with 13 per cent reporting frequent experiences. Students from Africa, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region are particularly affected.
The study’s authors say that the excellence of German universities is a great opportunity to attract urgently needed talent from all over the world to Germany in the long term. "At the same time, reports of discrimination must serve as a warning to us. Cosmopolitanism and tolerance are essential prerequisites if we want to convince outstanding young people to work for us as doctors, engineers or AI experts. We are all called upon to stand up against xenophobia and discrimination."
Some figures
Percentage of international students at leading German universities
Technical University of Munich: 43% of 34,200 students
Heidelberg University: 21% of 19,600 students
Humboldt University Berlin: 18% of 35,000 students
University of Bonn: 15% of 25,000 students
Aachen University: 31% of 29,000 students
University of Göttingen: 14% of 22,000 students
University of Freiburg: 18% of 20,200 students
Technical University of Berlin: 28% of 20,000 students
*The DAAD surveyed a total of 115,652 students at 132 higher education institutions in the 2023/24 winter semester – including 94,764 with German university entrance qualifications and 20,888 international students. The DAAD is the world’s largest funding organisation for the international exchange of students and researchers. Since it was founded in 1925, around 3 million scholars in Germany and abroad have received DAAD funding.
​
​
FOLLOW
Instagram | TikTok | X (Twitter) | Thread | Facebook | BlueSky | Mastodon |
​
UNITED KINGDOM
British government targets international students who ‘exploit’ current visa system
By The Immigrant Times' Education Editor
September 2025: Under pressure from the right-wing Reform UK party and anti-immigrant media, the British Labour government has unveiled a series of policies aimed at tightening the rules around international students and asylum claims. Home Secretary (Interior Minister) Yvette Cooper has argued that the present system is being exploited by individuals who claim financial stability upon arrival, only to seek asylum later.
The British government’s new approach targets what it describes as “abuses of the visa system,” particularly focusing on students who apply for asylum after their study visas expire. According to Home Office data, over 16,000 asylum claims in 2024 were made by individuals who initially entered the UK on student visas. Government figures also show that around 13 per cent of asylum applications in the UK in the year to June 2025, around 14,800, came from people who arrived on a study visa.
Key measures
• Direct messaging campaign: More than 130,000 foreign students are being contacted via text and email, warning them of deportation if they overstay or submit “meritless” asylum claims.
• Stricter screening: Visa interviews have become more rigorous, with refusal rates for short-term study visas rising from 45 per cent to 68 per cent.
• University accountability: Institutions may face penalties if fewer than 95 per cent of international students begin their courses or fewer than 90 per cent complete them. Those with high visa rejection rates could lose their ability to sponsor study visas altogether.
While Britain’s governing Labour Party insists that the measures are a long-planned move aligned with its manifesto pledge to cut net migration, critics within and outside the party see it as a reactive shift to reclaim right-leaning voters. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey accused Labour of “pandering” to divisive rhetoric.
The crackdown could have serious implications for UK universities, which rely heavily on international tuition fees—contributing over £12 billion in revenue in 2023–24. With 4 in 10 institutions facing deficits, reduced student recruitment could exacerbate financial strain.
Facts & figures
In 2023/24 there were 732,285 international students studying at UK higher education providers, or 23 per cent of the total student population. 75,490 of these students were from the EU and 656,795 from outside the EU. The total was down four per cent from the 2022/23 record high. This was the first fall since 2012/13, but the 2023/24 figure was still the second-highest ever number of international students.
​
​
FOLLOW
Instagram | TikTok | X (Twitter) | Thread | Facebook | BlueSky | Mastodon |
​​​​​​​​​​​