News about immigration

The NAHB Housing Market Index fell to 29 in October from 32 in September, below the expected 31 and at a 14-year low, as mortgage rates, energy and material costs, and labor and lot conditions worsened. All three HMI indices declined, and buyer traffic fell to its lowest level since April 2012, excluding the pandemic onset. Mortgage rates have climbed above 7%, and 43% of builders cut prices in October, the highest share in the 2020–2026 period, while 65% used sales incentives. More than one-third of builders reported immigration enforcement activity in their markets, causing construction delays and discouraging legal workers. The gap between current mortgage rates (7.5%) and the average mortgage held by homeowners (4.33%) is trapping both sellers and buyers.

Spain's extraordinary regularisation closed on June 30, 2026, with 1,174,978 applications, well above the government's initial estimate. Under Royal Decree 316/2026, applicants had to have been in Spain before January 1, 2026, show at least five months of uninterrupted presence, and meet one of three conditions: work or a job offer, family ties with minors or dependents, or certified vulnerability. Successful applicants receive a one-year residence permit allowing them to work anywhere in Spain. The article argues the scheme highlights Spain's growing reliance on newcomers, many from Latin America, though the closing tally gives no nationality breakdown. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez framed it as part of a €505 million integration plan, while PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo called it an “irresponsibility.”

Japan's foreign resident population hit a record 4.28 million at the end of June, according to the Immigration Services Agency, excluding short-term visitors. That is up 156,000 from the end of last year and about 3.5% of the total population. Immigration expert Toshihiro Menju says labour shortages across all skill levels, driven by a population shrinking by more than 900,000 a year, mean Japan has no choice but to rely on foreign workers, as AI, robotics and greater participation by women and older people cannot fully fill the gap. Businesses want a comprehensive policy for foreign residents, but growing anti-immigration sentiment has led Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to push for stricter rules, and Japan tightened permanent residency requirements this month with higher income and Japanese-fluency demands. The number of foreign residents rose by about 300,000 over the past year, versus 360,000 the year before, and Menju expects 10 million foreigners in the 2040s. Meanwhile, the number of illegal overstayers fell 4.8% from the start of the year to around 65,000 as of July 1.