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Net migration hits lowest level since 2012, Home Office says

8/29/2026

43 8 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Home Office says net migration fell to its lowest level since 2012, excluding Covid.
Asylum applications dropped 21% to 86,000 in the year to June 2026.
Illegal arrivals totaled 38,000, with 33,000 arriving by small boats from France.
Initial asylum decision backlog fell 56% to just over 40,000.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood reported record illegal-working arrests as removals rose 8% to 40,000.

History

Historical Context

In 2015 the European Union saw a record 1.3 million asylum applications, mainly from war-torn Syria, which led the bloc to tighten border controls. Building on those measures, the UK Home Office now records only 86 000 asylum claims and 38 000 irregular arrivals, the lowest net migration level overall since 2012, year-on-year.

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Story summary

Home Office says net migration fell to its lowest level since 2012, excluding Covid.
Asylum applications dropped 21% to 86,000 in the year to June 2026.
Illegal arrivals totaled 38,000, with 33,000 arriving by small boats from France.
Initial asylum decision backlog fell 56% to just over 40,000.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood reported record illegal-working arrests as removals rose 8% to 40,000.

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