However, it is not the highest in the rich world. Canada, Australia and Germany had higher migration per capita in 2022; both Canada and Australia also did in 2023. Indeed, Canada has expanded immigration much more dramatically than the UK. In 2023, Canada’s population grew by 3.2%, 98% of which was from immigration; this is >2x the UK rate.
Thus: yes, the UK has had high immigration in recent years. It is, however, not accurate to say that the UK has had open borders during this period.
Whether or not a country has open borders is determined by how controlled immigration is, not by whether or not any other country had more immigration. When people say the UK has open borders, they are typically meaning something like:
It is easy to enter the UK, for example on a tourist visa, by sailing across the channel, or by lying and claiming to be a refugee.
The UK has little ability to prevent undesirable immigrants from entering the country.
Once you get into the UK, even illegitimately, you are extremely unlikely to be deported.
The fact that some other country also had a lot of immigration does nothing to refute this.
I would say “having roughly similar migration as several other rich countries” does mean not “open borders”, as I think few people would claim that open borders is currently the state of entrance into most rich countries. (Certainly, as an immigrant in the UK, it has not been my experience.)
In answer to those points:
About one in four UK tourist visas is refused, which does not seem that easy. The UK has a relatively small number of migrants that arrive by sea, compared to other European countries with a long coastline. About half of asylum applications are denied. Most denied asylum seekers then leave the country.
So I stand by “open borders seems like quite the exaggeration”.
Whether or not a country has open borders is determined by how controlled immigration is, not by whether or not any other country had more immigration. When people say the UK has open borders, they are typically meaning something like:
It is easy to enter the UK, for example on a tourist visa, by sailing across the channel, or by lying and claiming to be a refugee.
The UK has little ability to prevent undesirable immigrants from entering the country.
Once you get into the UK, even illegitimately, you are extremely unlikely to be deported.
The fact that some other country also had a lot of immigration does nothing to refute this.
I would say “having roughly similar migration as several other rich countries” does mean not “open borders”, as I think few people would claim that open borders is currently the state of entrance into most rich countries. (Certainly, as an immigrant in the UK, it has not been my experience.)
In answer to those points:
About one in four UK tourist visas is refused, which does not seem that easy. The UK has a relatively small number of migrants that arrive by sea, compared to other European countries with a long coastline. About half of asylum applications are denied. Most denied asylum seekers then leave the country.
So I stand by “open borders seems like quite the exaggeration”.