Immigration Consequences of the UK Exit from the EU

The United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union is going to have wide-ranging immigration consequences.

First, there is the immigration platform of the “Brexit” campaign itself: better control of who comes into the United Kingdom. The idea is to both limit the entry of workers from EU nations and to take control over the UK’s acceptance and screening of refugees.

But there will be other consequences.

Some 1.3 million UK citizens currently reside and work throughout Europe. Those individuals will, going forward, need to either obtain some other form of temporary work status in their countries of residence or return to the UK. 

The exit will also affect the three million EU nationals currently working in the UK. They, too, will need new residency and work authorization.

And there is the Scottish issue. Scottish voters largely favor remaining the EU. The UK’s exit from the EU may mean a new referendum on Scotland’s secession from the UK. That, of course, will lead to a whole host of new immigration issues.

While the EU leadership has publicly asked the UK to effectuate its removal “as soon as possible,” Prime Minister Cameron isn’t going to step down until the fall, and it likely won’t be until then that the UK will come up with an official plan about how to leave the EU.

You can be sure that this change will come with a host of messy immigration issues.

-KitJ