Efforts spearheaded by the Home Secretary to overhaul the UK's immigration system and curtail unsustainable levels of migration are yielding tangible results, as indicated by
newly released data.
In the first quarter of 2024, the number of dependents accompanying students to the UK plummeted by nearly 80%, with over 26,000 fewer student visa applications compared to the same period in 2023. These figures underscore the efficacy of government measures implemented to tighten student visas, which came into effect in January and have notably restricted the ability of international students to bring family members and circumvent visa regulations for employment purposes.
James Cleverly, Home Secretary, emphasized the imperative of restoring public confidence in the immigration system and alleviating strains on public services and wages. He reiterated the government's commitment to achieving the largest-ever reduction in legal migration and highlighted the significant progress made thus far.
Notably, measures to curtail migration in the health and care sector have also been enacted, with restrictions placed on care workers from bringing dependents. This move, implemented in March, aims to address disproportionate and unsustainable dependency visa numbers, while safeguarding the integrity of the sector and combatting worker exploitation.
Additionally, care providers acting as sponsors for migrants are now required to register with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to combat exploitation and abuse within the sector. These measures align with broader efforts to reduce reliance on immigration to meet social care needs, with the Department for Health and Social Care spearheading initiatives to bolster the domestic workforce.
Furthermore, recent data reflects the impact of raising the salary threshold for skilled workers, alongside other comprehensive measures aimed at reducing migration and enhancing the integrity of the immigration system. These efforts coincide with a broader crackdown on illegal migration and criminal gangs, with initiatives such as the Safety of Rwanda Act and the ratification of the Treaty with Rwanda marking significant milestones in this endeavor.
As the government continues to operationalize its comprehensive migration policy, including initiatives to enhance border security and address global migration challenges, the data underscores the tangible progress achieved in realizing the government's commitment to delivering a robust and sustainable immigration framework. Photo by Richard Townshend, Wikimedia commons.