Major migration and asylum resort replace – all you should know as new information launched
Data released today reveals that net migration dropped by two thirds in a year – but the number of people in asylum hotels has gone up since the summer
Net migration has plummeted in the past 12 months, new data shows.
According to experts at the Office for National Statistics, the figure fell to 204,000 in the year to June – down from 649,000. But a tranche of Home Office data also reveals a record number of people claimed asylum, while the number of people in hotels has risen.
The number of people removed from the UK has gone up, with over 150 small boat arrivals detained and sent back to France. Here we look at some of the key data released this morning.
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How much has net migration gone down?
Figures published today by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimate long-term net migration plummeted to 204,000 in the year to June. This is down from 649,000 the previous year, and will be seen as a boost for Keir Starmer.
Statisticians estimate that 898,000 people came to the UK in that time – down 401,000 from the 12 months before. And 693,000 people left the country over the same period.
Who is coming to the UK?
Of the long-term migrants to the UK, around 75% – an estimated 670,000 people – were nationals of non-EU countries. Around 143,000 were British nationals, while 85,000 were from the EU.
The number of people from the EU+ area – the 27 European Union members plus Norway and Switzerland – has fallen since free movement ended in 2020. The top five non-EU+ nationalities coming to the UK were Indian, Chinese, Pakistani, Nigerian and Nepalese – with the majority from each country coming on study visas.
Romanian was the most common EU+ nationality, followed by Italian, Irish, French and Polish.
What has Shabana Mahmood said?
Labour has pledged to bring net migration down. Last week Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood unveiled a shake-up on settlement rules that will see people with refugee status face reviews every 30 months.
She said: “Net migration is at its lowest level in half a decade and has fallen by more than two-thirds under this government. But we are going further because the pace and scale of migration has placed immense pressure on local communities.
“Last week, I announced reforms to our migration system to ensure that those who come here must contribute and put in more than they take out.”
What about asylum?
Home Office data published today reveals 111,000 people claimed asylum in the year ending September 2025. This is 13% more than the previous year, and higher than the previous recorded peak of 103,000 in 2002.
Officials said half arrived through illegal routes – such as small boats – while a further 38% of claimants had previously arrived in the UK on a visa or with other leave. In the year ending June 2025, the UK received the fifth largest number of asylum seekers in the EU+, after Germany, Spain, Italy and France.
How many people are in asylum hotels?
The number of asylum seekers being housed temporarily in UK hotels has risen by 13% in three months, new figures show. There were 36,273 people staying in such accommodation in September, while they await a decision on their asylum claims.
The number of asylum seekers in hotels peaked at 56,018 at the end of September 2023 under the then-Conservative government but dropped to a record low of 29,561 in June 2024 just before the general election.
What’s the Home Office said about hotels?
A Home Office spokesman said “we will close every single one”.
He stated: “We are furious at the levels of illegal migrants and asylum hotels. There are now fewer than 200 in use and we will close every single one.
“Work is well under way to move illegal migrants into military bases to ease pressure on communities across the country. And that’s why last week we set out the most sweeping reforms in modern times to restore order and control to our borders.”
How many people have been removed from the UK?
In the year to September there were 9,400 enforced returns. This is an increase of 22% compared to the previous 12 months.
Albanians were the most represented country. There were 5,300 returns of foreign national offenders – a 10% increase in a year.
How many people have been sent to France?
In the summer the Government announced a groundbreaking returns deal with France – the such such European agreement since Brexit.
The ‘one-in-one-out’ programme has so far seen 153 small boat arrivals detained and deported. Border Security Minister Alex Norris said: “We are reforming our immigration system, making it easier to remove and deport illegal migrants with no right to be here.”
Do many asylum claims get approved?
The Home Office said 134,000 initial decisions had been reached in the year to September – a 31% annual rise.
Almost half of them were grants, with 45% approved. This was down from 52% the previous year.
