MADRID (AP) — Former President Donald Trump sharply criticized European leaders for their insufficient efforts in managing irregular migration during an address at the U.N. General Assembly. Trump claimed that Europe is facing an unprecedented invasion of illegal aliens, asserting that little has been done to address the influx of migrants and refugees changing the continent’s demographic landscape.
However, his statements appear at odds with current data. According to the EU's border control agency, Frontex, irregular border crossings from January to August saw a decline of approximately 20% compared to the same timeframe the previous year. Around 112,000 attempted crossings were flagged this year, a decrease from nearly 140,000 last year.
Despite this downturn in irregular crossings, the issue of unauthorized migration remains a significant hurdle in European politics, particularly since 2015. This was a year marked by a surge of migrants and refugees, particularly from war-torn regions such as Syria.
Trump's speech included several statements about the state of immigration in Europe. He claimed, 'Europe is in serious trouble. They’ve been invaded by a force of illegal aliens like nobody’s ever seen before.' Yet, migration trends illustrate a lingering decline in crossings and applications for asylum within the EU.
A recent report indicated that asylum applications surged to 900,000 in 2024, a decrease of 13% from the previous year. This follows a peak in 2015 when asylum requests reached 1.2 million.
Moreover, Trump's claims regarding the difficulty of deporting undocumented immigrants were also called into question. Although European authorities issue over 400,000 deportation orders annually, only a fraction — approximately 20% — are enforced, primarily due to systemic and bureaucratic challenges within the EU’s member states.
The issue of immigrant and foreign-born individuals within the prison population was also addressed, with Trump noting high percentages of non-natives in confinement. While some figures were accurate, such as those related to Switzerland's prison demographics, other statistics, including those for Germany, were overstated.
Additionally, Trump took aim at London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, incorrectly insinuating that Khan supports implementing Sharia law. Khan has clarified that no such measure has been proposed, indicating that he promotes a liberal and multicultural city framework.
Thus, while Trump's rhetoric highlights the contentious debate surrounding immigration policies in Europe, the facts illustrate a more complex reality that doesn't fully align with his claims.
However, his statements appear at odds with current data. According to the EU's border control agency, Frontex, irregular border crossings from January to August saw a decline of approximately 20% compared to the same timeframe the previous year. Around 112,000 attempted crossings were flagged this year, a decrease from nearly 140,000 last year.
Despite this downturn in irregular crossings, the issue of unauthorized migration remains a significant hurdle in European politics, particularly since 2015. This was a year marked by a surge of migrants and refugees, particularly from war-torn regions such as Syria.
Trump's speech included several statements about the state of immigration in Europe. He claimed, 'Europe is in serious trouble. They’ve been invaded by a force of illegal aliens like nobody’s ever seen before.' Yet, migration trends illustrate a lingering decline in crossings and applications for asylum within the EU.
A recent report indicated that asylum applications surged to 900,000 in 2024, a decrease of 13% from the previous year. This follows a peak in 2015 when asylum requests reached 1.2 million.
Moreover, Trump's claims regarding the difficulty of deporting undocumented immigrants were also called into question. Although European authorities issue over 400,000 deportation orders annually, only a fraction — approximately 20% — are enforced, primarily due to systemic and bureaucratic challenges within the EU’s member states.
The issue of immigrant and foreign-born individuals within the prison population was also addressed, with Trump noting high percentages of non-natives in confinement. While some figures were accurate, such as those related to Switzerland's prison demographics, other statistics, including those for Germany, were overstated.
Additionally, Trump took aim at London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, incorrectly insinuating that Khan supports implementing Sharia law. Khan has clarified that no such measure has been proposed, indicating that he promotes a liberal and multicultural city framework.
Thus, while Trump's rhetoric highlights the contentious debate surrounding immigration policies in Europe, the facts illustrate a more complex reality that doesn't fully align with his claims.
