Germany attributes fall in irregular migration to stricter border controls
The German government claims that the introduction of border checks with Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland have reduced the number of unauthorized entries.
Switzerland
UNHCR report: Globally, 1 in every 200 is a refugee
At last week's Global Refugee Forum in Geneva, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) presented 2023 global migration figures.
Populist right dominates Swiss elections
A general election in Switzerland has handed more power to the popular Swiss People’s Party, which campaigned against "mass immigration".
Austria and Germany add border checks, Switzerland may follow
Austria will introduce intensified checks at its northern border with the Czech Republic to stem irregular migration and prevent smugglers from changing their routes and evading justice, the country's interior minister announced.
Europe 2023 asylum applications expected to be highest since 2016
More than 800,000 asylum applications have been filed in the EU, Norway and Switzerland so far this year – the highest figure since 2016. As European countries look to tighten borders and fasten repatriation rates, the UNHCR has warned such moves are "impractical and short-sighted."
Number of requests for asylum in Europe rises 28 percent in first half of 2023
The number of migrants lodging asylum applications in the EU has jumped 28 percent in the first half of this year compared to the same period last year, official figures released Tuesday showed.
Incoming UN migration chief looks to private sector to help manage migration
The incoming head of the UN migration agency said she is looking to the private sector to build partnerships to manage migration.
NGOs alarmed over alleged evidence of illegal rejections at Germany's borders
A significant number of persons from main asylum countries were turned away at Germany’s borders. Refugee rights groups say these are 'clear indications that the federal police are illegally rejecting people seeking protection'.
European health experts call for better migrant health care to combat rise in diphtheria cases
Researchers have detected a sharp rise in diphtheria cases among migrants in the UK and across Europe. Experts are calling for better health care to combat the infection.
Long asylum processes hurting access to education for unaccompanied minors
Lengthy asylum processes and the uneven implementation of educational programs for asylum seekers across the European Union are hurting unaccompanied minors' prospects of integration and employment, according to ECRE.
Switzerland's biggest party wants asylum procedures relocated abroad
The Swiss People's Party has declared it wants to "put a stop" to what it calls "disproportionate and harmful" immigration. The right-wing party hopes to set up transit zones abroad to prevent "illegal entries."
Switzerland records uptick in irregular entries
Switzerland recorded some 52,000 cases of unauthorized entry last year, almost three times as many as in 2021. Most of the migrants apprehended were reported to be of Afghan and Moroccan nationality.