Europe's Illegal Migrant Entries Plummet: A 20% Plunge in 5 Months!
EU border illegality decreased by 20%
Lookie here! The European border bashers are on a downward spiral, according to the snoops at Frontex, the Old World's border law enforcers. In the first five months of '22, a whopping 20% decrease in illegal entries into the EU was reported! Totaling at 63,700 trespassing touches, these migrants hailed primarily from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Mali.
Now, let's take a gander at where the action’s been heating up least. The Western Balkans states saw a mighty 65% drop in illegal boundary breaks, followed by West Africa (-35%) and the Eastern Med (-30%). Even Poland and the Baltic states felt a departure ofBelarusian johnny-come-latelys, experiencing a 7% descent.
However, the party ain’t over for Italy and the Brits. Frontex spilled the beans on a 7% rise in Mediterranean boat people trying to storm Italia and a 17% surge in English Channel swimmers hoping to breach Blighty. Seems like the mucky smugglers in the neighborhood are adjusting strategies, Frontex warned, with some bright sparks sending out multiple boats at once to bump up the odds of a successful invasion.
Last year, Frontex shouted about a 38% drop in recorded illegal EU entries, down to 239,000, after blasting a ten-year high in '23.
Now, here's where it gets juicy. The tattletales at Google revealed some potential catalysts behind these fluctuations in illegal border crossings:
- Amped-up EU border fortifications - The Old Continent's been beefing up its borders and strengthening relations with neighboring nations to stifle irregular migration. Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, has been beefed up, too, boasting more powers and clout to manage border security[1].
- Regional Crises - The Belarus–EU border shenanigans blossomed in '21, involving tons of migrants trying their luck in the EU. Poland was the hardest hit, but managing those crises could've influenced overall trends in illegal entries[5].
- Return Policies - The EU's been keen on executing effective returns of irregular migrants, which might keep potential newbies away if they perceive the risk of getting hustled back as high[2].
Without specific Frontex data for the first five months of '22, it's tricky to pinpoint the real reasons behind the 20% drop. But these bigger picture trends are wagging their fingers, suggesting they've influenced migration patterns.
[1] EU Reinforces Frontex - https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/what-we-do/policies/borders-and-visa/frontex_en[2] EU Emphasizes Returns - https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/what-we-do/policies/asylum/returns/index_en.htm[5] Belarus-EU Border Crisis - https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56420792
- The decline in illegal immigration into the EU could be linked to the strengthening of employment policies within the community, as stricter border controls may deter potential migrants seeking employment opportunities.
- Given the rise in Mediterranean boat people attempting to reach Italy and the increased number of English Channel swimmers aiming to breach Britain, the politics and laws surrounding crime and justice, especially in regards to immigration and border control, could play a significant role in shaping these trends.
