A study reveals that the UK hosts a higher number of unauthorised immigrants when compared to any other European nation, pointing to alarming figures that nearly match the entire population of the city of Leeds. Close to 745,000 individuals with an unauthorised status are estimated to reside in the country, equivalent to around 1% of the total UK population. This estimate shadows France’s 300,000 and even surpasses Germany’s figures, the country with the second-largest unauthorised population, estimated to be approximately 700,000.
The ground-breaking research involved a collaboration of 18 institutions that came together to compile this report. The estimated range of unauthorised immigrants in the UK as per the findings of the study lies between 594,000 and 745,000. The count includes individuals who entered the country without proper documentation, those who remain after their visa period has expired, or people who went ‘off-grid’ post asylum application denial.
This significant proportion of unauthorised population in the UK might be indicative of the value of the so-called ‘shadow economy’. The research offers crucial insights and is part of a larger effort towards establishing a public database for estimating unauthorised immigrant populations worldwide.
The individuals represented in these numbers live and work in the UK beyond the gaze of the national tax and benefits infrastructure. The state is unable to retrieve their financial contribution to the national coffers. At the same time, these individuals are denied access to benefits and often find themselves in precarious situations where exploitation and desperation lurk closely.
Furthermore, these figures do not factor into the separate, significant backlog of unresolved asylum applications, currently standing at 224,742. The UK’s relatively lenient immigration policies have been speculated to be a causative factor behind the Channel tragedy, according to a French minister.
While the figures are alarming, it is important to remember that the study also illustrates the human struggle underneath. They underline the urgent need to address unauthorised immigration in a sustainable and humanitarian way, ensuring that people are not lost between systems, without access to basic rights and services.
It is also an alarm bell for the government officials responsible for designing effective immigration policies. They must listen to the facts and figures, evaluating the existing policies and making necessary transformations to handle these issues in a cooperative and global spirit.
Moreover, the findings underline the need to understand the importance and extent of the ‘shadow economy’ and its implications on the national economy. It is crucial for the government to ensure mechanisms are in place to collect taxes from everyone working within the country and ensure that economic gains are reflected accurately.
This also brings to light the vast number of individuals who are susceptible to horrifying experiences of exploitation and substandard living conditions. Legislations and mechanisms are urgently needed not only to prevent these dire situations but also to support these individuals in getting back on their feet.
The research reflects the plight of people reaching out for a better life and the measures they are prepared to take for the same, navigating perilous journeys and trying to remain undercover. These statistics also echo the long-standing calls for systemic reform, including more comprehensive and compassionate solutions to immigration.
Apart from focusing solely on policy changes, this research also underlines the intense necessity of international dialogue and cooperative initiatives. Given the global nature of such issues, individual nations might find it difficult to draft comprehensive and successful policies without regional and international cooperation.
In addition, the research into these numbers reiterates the need for creating more legal pathways for migration. By allowing people to enter, live and work in the country legally, the state could benefit from their contributions to the economy while ensuring that they have access to basic rights.
The researchers’ hard work in providing a detailed and comprehensive insight into unauthorised immigrants’ numbers, highlights the complexities of the situation. What lies ahead for policymakers is a challenge of balancing measures to discourage illegal immigration while ensuring a humane, fair approach towards those who are already part of this underestimated demography.
UK Surpasses Europe with Highest Number of Unauthorised Immigrants appeared first on Real News Now.
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