


Europe’s astonishing drop in illegal migration
Europe’s big, invisible wall is slowing boat crossings by migrants
“EUROPE IS IN serious trouble,” Donald Trump thundered on September 23rd in a speech at the UN. “Illegal aliens are pouring in.” Listen to other politicians, too, and it would seem that the flow of migrants illegally crossing Europe’s borders is an unstoppable tide.
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This article appeared in the International section of the print edition under the headline “Europe’s astonishing drop in illegal migration”

From the September 27th 2025 edition
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