The net number of migration to Germany continued to tumble in 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic was cited as a chief reason for the decline in numbers, which now has fallen to merely a third of the legally permitted numbers.

An Italian public prosecutor has requested prison sentences for those involved in an alleged illegal "system" run by some non-profit organizations in Milan. Those on trial are accused of falsifying documents to profit from the recep1

Pope Francis expressed "concern for the situation of displaced people in various parts of the world", highlighting the urgent need to "renew the commitment to the protection of refugees and people fleeing violence and persecution."

There are renewed calls in Germany for a freeze on deportations of rejected asylum seekers to Afghanistan. Several groups are warning that as Afghanistan’s security situation worsens, the risks from COVID have become acute.