In 2015, the migrant crisis caused an influx of refugees into Western Europe, which we followed on our TV screens. Today, attempts to enter the country illegally are a daily occurrence, which media constantly report. As a result, immigration is no longer viewed as an opportunity to improve economic conditions and develop the country. Still, it is beginning to be perceived as a threat to the security of citizens. A new report from WEI shows that immigration doesn't have to be a threat – provided that responsible policies are pursued.

In the public debate on immigration, there is a lack of verified data; hence, many myths exist on both sides of the political argument, which do not serve to develop consensus but instead fuel social conflict and exacerbate emotions. On the right, it is believed that any immigration is associated with an increase in crime and should be curbed. On the left, it is thought that, to prevent the negative phenomena associated with the influx of immigrants, it is enough to offer them sufficiently high social benefits.

The Warsaw Enterprise Institute's ambition is to rationalize the public debate based on proven data. That's why we conducted an extensive study of the factors influencing crime among foreigners. After examining implemented migration strategies and analyzing a range of economic and social indicators from more than 30 countries, we come up with the following conclusions:

· Social benefits attract non-EU immigrants, but, weaken their willingness to work. Within the community, 865,000 asylum applications were processed in 2023, of which as many as 334,000 were received in Germany, a country with high social benefits (more than 20 percent of GDP spent on social benefits). At the same time, it was in this country that immigrants could most often count on a positive response (37 percent of applicants were granted asylum). As of 2024, the employment rate among immigrants in Germany is about 72.5 percent, with Poland's rate as high as 84.8 percent.

· The influx of social migrants is regularly associated with an increase in crime. In Germany, foreigners made up approximately 17 percent of the population in 2024, yet they were already responsible for more than 40 percent of crime. In Sweden, the share of immigrants in 2023 was 20 percent of the population, with them accounting for as much as 37 percent of the prison population. In less socially generous Poland, however, the situation is much more favorable – the share of foreigners in the population is about 6.6 percent, with them responsible for only about 5 percent of crime and accounting for 4.2 percent of the prison population.

· The propensity for foreigners to break the law decreases with increased investment in public policy and as the risk of deportation increases. In countries that spend relatively more on public policy, crime among immigrants is low. Our research confirms this. An increase in public spending on force structures, up to about 2 percent of GDP, reduces crime among foreigners. Countries where post-sentence deportations of convicts are common have seen security improvements. Studies conducted confirm these reports, showing a negative correlation between the increase in post-sentence deportations of foreigners and their share of the prison population.

The Warsaw Enterprise Institute stresses the importance of responsible migration policies. The influx of foreigners presents both development opportunities and challenges that require careful monitoring. We oppose the idea of closing the borders, and see opening them to legal newcomers as a beneficial solution. A rational and well-planned approach to immigration can promote economic development, especially in the face of demographic challenges. The experience of Western European countries demonstrates that the absence of a migration policy grounded in a solid foundation can lead to significant problems and social tensions.

Source, WEI