EU Expels Record 431,000 Migrants in 2022; Moroccans Among Top Nationalities Deported

The EU member states ordered the expulsion of 31,000 Moroccan migrants from their territories in 2022, an increase of 27% compared to 2021, the report notes, stating that France ordered 136,000 expulsions, which represents 31% of the total EU expulsions, compared to 44,000 (10%) for Germany, 41,000 for Croatia (9%) and 34,000 for Greece (8%).

By nationality, Algerians (34,000) are at the top of the list of non-EU migrants expelled from the territory of an EU member state. They are followed by Moroccans (31,000), Pakistanis (25,000), Albanians (9,500), Georgians (7,500) and Turks (4,000). The largest number comes from France and Sweden with 8,600 expulsions each, which represents 12% of the total, followed by Germany (7,700), or 11%.

Eurostat also indicates in its report that nearly 1.1 million non-EU nationals were in an irregular situation in 2022, a significant increase of 65% compared to 2021. The highest figures were recorded in Hungary, with 223,000 individuals (20% of the EU total), Germany with 198,000 (18%) and Italy with 138,000 (12%). The migrants were mostly Syrians (197,000), Afghans (114,000) and Moroccans (60,000).

Regarding residence permits, the report reveals that 421,000 permits for studies and research projects were issued to non-EU nationals, of which 132,000 by Germany (31% of the total permits in the EU), 110,000 by France (26%) and 53,000 by Spain (13%). The main beneficiaries are Chinese nationals (42,000, or 10%), Indians (40,000, or 10%), Americans (21,000, or 5%) and Moroccans (20,000, or 5%).