Migration news roundup 03 March 2025

This Migration News Roundup presents a selection of news, policy, research and statistics from the previous week on migration-related topics. The contents of each story do not necessarily reflect the views of Migration Yorkshire.

• UK borders and migration policy
• Specific migrant groups
• Cohesion and integration
• International news
• Stories that inspired us this week

UK borders and migration policy

It’s quarterly immigration statistics publication time! (Source: Home Office) 

• Media coverage focuses on the record number of over 108,000 asylum applications received in 2024 (despite fewer people arriving by small boat than in 2022) but also a fall in the asylum grant rate, with refusals higher than grants last year, as well as a drop in the number of people granted visas for work or study particularly for the health and care visa and student dependants. (Sources: BBC, Sky, Migration Observatory) 

• This short commentary anticipates lower net migration reporting in May, and that the politics of immigration are lagging behind falling numbers. (Source: British Future) 

• Migration Yorkshire’s data dashboards for Yorkshire and Humber are updated: Refugee and asylum seeker, Ukraine, EU Settlement Scheme and Newcomers dashboards. (Source: Migration Yorkshire) 

This letter draws attention to the struggles of health and care workers to obtain visas for their children, due to the challenge of proving ‘sole responsibility’. (Source: the Guardian)  

The Seasonal Worker scheme is being extended by five years. Relatedly, this article explores concerns about labour exploitation in the agricultural sector. (Sources: Food Ingredients First, the Conversation) 

Specific migrant groups

On asylum:  

• As government announces plans to cut the foreign aid budget, there are reports that almost half of the aid budget will be spent on asylum accommodation in the UK. (Source: the i paper)  

• A new report investigates the use and impact of ‘streaming algorithms’ to help determine asylum claims. It raises concerns about the limitations of AI in understanding human emotions and culture specific mannerisms as well as inaccuracies in interview transcripts. (Source: Migrant Rights Network)  

On children and young people: 

• United Nations data shows a record number of children died attempting to cross the Channel in 2024. (Source: the Guardian) 

• An inspection report highlights serious child safeguarding concerns at the UK’s short-term holding facilities in France. (Source: electronic immigration network) 

• The Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) reiterated the need for more support from government to support unaccompanied asylum seeking children including funding, faster decisions on asylum claims and more specialist mental health support. (Source: ADCS) 

The Homelessness Code of Guidance for councils has been amended to clarify that pre-settled status holders who are non-EU family members are also in scope. (Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government) 

On international students: 

• Fact for the day: 50 world leaders (who were in post during 2022) were educated at UK universities, higher than any other country. (Source: the Guardian) 

• It’s been suggested UK universities might benefit as international students may look here rather than the USA as a place to study. (Source: the Guardian) 

Cohesion and integration

A report on public opinion and social trends shows concerns around issues of immigration have become more prevalent over the last two years, but behind a range of other issues. 54% considered immigration one of the top issues facing the country today (up from 43% in 2022) with greater prominence among older age groups. (Source: Office for National Statistics) 

New dashboards on rough sleeping show nearly a third of those sleeping rough in December 2024 who recently left an institution were those who had left asylum services, falling to 18% for Yorkshire and Humber. (Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government - Data Framework Dashboard) 

In case you missed it, this report estimates over four million people of a migrant background living in the UK are not eligible to vote in parliamentary elections and recommends voting rights are based on residence. It includes estimates of ‘non-enfranchised residents’ in each council and constituency area. (Source: Migrant Democracy Project) 

International news

Following German elections where debates around immigration took centre stage, we’re watching to see what the results mean for migrants. Merz, the next Chancellor, wants to tighten immigration policy by building on a plan parliament passed in January that could lead to refusal of entry to people who are undocumented and seeking asylum. (Source: Business Standard) 

It's been a year since Albania's parliament approved Italy's migrant centres, yet both centres stand empty. This article explores what might happen next. (Source: InfoMigrants/DW) 

Stories that inspired us this week

After challenges in her route to higher education as a young refugee from Iran, Negar Rezaei is working towards her ambition of becoming a pilot as a student in aerospace engineering at Sheffield Hallam University. (Source: FE News) 

Two stories in the news feature women from Ukraine. Valentyna Klymova, one of the first Ukrainian refugees to move here after the Russian invasion, shares her experience and how being accepted has changed her own attitudes. Hear from singer Vikktoria Rekin, who came to the UK with her daughter, about building a new home in the UK with the support and kindness of people in Northumberland. (Sources: the Guardian, Itv - three minute video)