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LONDON: People from Afghanistan, Eritrea, Iran, Sudan and Syria made up more than half of all detected entries through irregular channels to the UK in the 12 months to June this year, according to new data from the Home Office.

Migrants from these five countries account for 55 percent of the total irregular entry to the UK; however, they are among the least likely to receive legal visas. Individuals from Vietnam, Somalia, Iraq, Yemen and Turkiye are among the ten countries, where the nationality is known, that have entered the UK through irregular routes.

The data indicates that migrants from Afghanistan, Eritrea, Iran, Sudan and Syria received 3 percent of all visas issued by the Home Office to foreign nationals who entered legally in the past 12 months ending in June, for employment, study, family or humanitarian reasons.

Nationals from India, China, Pakistan, Nigeria and the US together make up 51 percent of the total visas issued to those arriving in the UK through these legal routes. None of these countries is among the top 15 for irregular migration. The highest nationality is Indian, ranked 17th, accounting for just over 1 percent of irregular arrivals.

A total of 48,478 people with known nationality arrived in the UK through irregular routes in the 12 months to June, according to Home Office data. The government announced it may suspend visas for countries that refuse return deals for illegal migrants in the UK.

Data shows that 42,446 crossed the English Channel, while others arrived in lorries or containers, or were found without proper documentation to be in the UK legally.

The leading nationality for irregular migration by June was Afghanistan, with 6,589 arrivals, making up 13.6 percent of the total. The tenth nationality was Turkiye, with 1,797 illicit migrants, accounting for 3.7 percent.

During the same period, a total of 834,977 visas were issued to legal migrants. India topped the list with 165,970 visas, accounting for 19.9 percent of the total. China followed with 114,128 visas, which represents 13.7 percent. Australia ranked tenth with 13,298 visas, accounting for 1.6 percent of the total visas issued.