Immigration hike, asylum request drop in OECD countries in 2005

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PARIS, June 25 (Agencies): Immigration into countries belonging to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) continued to climb in 2005 while asylum requests kept sliding, according to a report published by the group today.
Immigration into OECD countries rose 11 per cent in 2005, with family migration accounting for the largest increase, while asylum requests to the same countries slipped 15 per cent compared to the year before, according to the OECD's annual International Migration Outlook report.
As for unauthorised immigration, the United States alone counted 620,000 illegal entries per year between 2000 and 2004, the OECD said.
In Europe, illegal immigrants account for one percent of the population, the group added.
Migration due to family reunions made up a third of permanent immigration into Japan and Britain, and a full 70 per cent into the United States.
The OECD meanwhile pointed out that in several European countries, including Austria, Belgium, Britain, Denmark, Germany, Portugal and Sweden, people immigrating on work permits represented between 30 and 40 per cent of all permanent immigrants.
The number of asylum seekers to OECD countries meanwhile continued to slide in 2005, with only 300,000 requests that year, or half of the 2000 level. Some 23 per cent of the requests came from Africans.
In Europe, migration within the continent has swelled since 2004 when the European Union welcomed 10 new central and eastern European members and even more so since Bulgaria and Romania joined the bloc in January, 2007, according to the OECD.
Meanwhile, Washington message says: Senior Democrats in the Senate are confident that the comprehensive immigration legislation that attempts to come to terms with the growing number of illegals, including a large number of Indians, and a pathway to citizenship will clear the chamber this week.
The lawmakers are, however, aware of the battle that lies ahead on the Senate floor with an almost equal number of Republicans and Democrats determined to have it their way.
"Tuesday there will be a closure vote on the motion to proceed. It will ripen Thursday. We'll see if between the two parties we have 60 votes. Both Senator (Trent) Lott and I are on the same side with respect to this.