Immigration Trends 2024: Increasing Residence Permits and Expulsions Amid Declining Asylum Applications – April 2, 2025

The 2024 immigration report for France highlights an increase in residence permits and expulsions, with a notable 26.7% rise in deportations totaling 21,601. While residence permits grew by 1.8%, asylum applications decreased by 5.5%. Minister Gérard Darmanin praised tougher policies, while Bruno Retailleau emphasized a commitment to reducing immigration. The report also noted a shift in asylum seekers, with Ukraine now leading, and a slight rise in the protection rate for applicants.

The 2024 immigration report reveals a noteworthy shift in France’s immigration landscape, highlighting an increase in residence permits and expulsions alongside a decline in asylum applications. These statistics have caught the attention of Bruno Retailleau, who aims to curtail the number of foreigners residing in France.

Last year, France issued a total of 336,700 first residence permits, marking a modest rise of 1.8% from 2023. In contrast, the number of expulsions surged by 26.7%, culminating in 21,601 deportations, as reported by the Ministry of the Interior.

The topic of immigration continues to ignite controversy. At the end of January, François Bayrou stirred criticism from the left and some allies by suggesting that France is ‘approaching’ a state of feeling overwhelmed by immigration.

Justice Minister Gérard Darmanin expressed satisfaction with a 27% increase in the expulsion of illegal immigrants in 2024, attributing these outcomes to the stringent policies implemented during the initial nine months of the year, as backed by @BrunoRetailleau.

Bruno Retailleau, who took over as Minister of the Interior in September, has been vocal about his stance against immigration, asserting that it ‘is not an opportunity’ and emphasizing his commitment to reducing its levels.

Marine Le Pen, the leader of the National Rally deputies, criticized the rise in initial requests for residency: ‘It is no longer sufficient for the French to settle for mere words and empty promises; we must take decisive action to regain control over our immigration policy,’ she stated on X.

The rise in residence permits last year was at a slower rate compared to previous years, which saw a 4% increase. According to the General Directorate of Foreigners in France (DGEF), student permits represented one-third of the total (109,300), with family-related permits making up a quarter (90,600), as outlined in the annual immigration report from the ministry.

Notably, there was a significant jump of 13.5% for humanitarian reasons, amounting to approximately 55,000 permits, while those issued for economic reasons remained stable at around 55,600.

The leading countries for first residence permit issuances are from the Maghreb region, accounting for 25% of all permits. Interestingly, the number of Algerians applying for their first permit decreased by 9%.

As of December 31, 2024, France recorded a total of 4.3 million valid residence permits, reflecting a 3.9% increase.

– Expulsions on the Rise –

When it comes to expulsions, the Ministry of the Interior reported a 26.7% uptick in the number of foreigners in irregular situations being returned, amounting to 21,601 individuals. Forced removals alone accounted for 12,856, which is a 9.7% increase compared to the previous year.

Furthermore, 31,250 undocumented immigrants were regularized, marking a 10% decrease. This decline represents the first reversal of this trend since 2020, influenced by the recent tightening of the Valls circular under Bruno Retailleau’s directives.

Retailleau has stated that ‘Regularization is not a right’ for undocumented individuals.

Among those who were regularized, there were 10,330 undocumented workers (a 10% drop) and 20,090 individuals regularized for family reasons (-9%).

As for asylum requests, the ministry noted a 5.5% decrease, bringing the total to 157,947 applications. This decline is significantly attributed to a 45% reduction in Dublin requests, which are filed in the country where the applicant initially arrived, according to Guillaume Mordant, head of the DGEF’s statistical department.

Overall, asylum requests are declining across the European Union, with approximately 950,000 applications anticipated in 2024, down from 1.050 million in 2023.

Last year, the nationality of asylum applicants shifted, with Ukraine surpassing Afghanistan as the leading source, as Ukrainian requests skyrocketed to 13,350, quadrupling in just one year. ‘France accounts for two-thirds of Ukrainian asylum requests across the EU,’ emphasized Mordant, who noted a lack of explanations for this trend.

The protection rate, including appeals, saw a rise of 4.6 points, reaching 49.3%.

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