Number of illegal immigrant entries growing

The number of illegal immigrants arriving in Finland threatens to double compared with last year, reported the Finnish newspaper Keskisuomalainen on Wednesday.
      According to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Finland's central criminal police arm, more than 1,700 foreigners arrived in Finland illegally over the period from January through July.
      The number is almost as high as that for the entire last year. If the trend continues at the same pace this year, the number of incidents will be almost double compared with 2007.
     
The majority of illegal entries are made by people coming from Iraq, Russia, Somalia, and China.
      According to the NBI, most of those persons who have entered the country illegally will later apply for asylum in Finland. There also seems to be an increase in attempts at illegal entry into the Schengen area via Finland.
     
However, some 25 per cent of those foreigners who have been recorded as illegal immigrants are just visiting the country. For example many Russians recorded as illegal immigrants have stayed in Finland after their visas have expired, a fact that is revealed only when they eventually leave the country.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Officials investigate travel by underage Chinese as possible illegal entry (27.3.2006)
  Border Guard concerned about increased direct flights between Finland and China (15.2.2006)

Links:
  Finnish Immigration Service
  National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)