National responses to date during the COVID-19 crisis in the areas of migration and asylum

The COVID-19 took by surprise most Member States of the European Union, as they underestimated the rapid spread of the contagion in the continent. The response of the Member States was asymmetrical, individualistic and significantly slow. The first measures taken were to close down the internal borders. The response of the European Union was even slower to the point that and it was not until March 17th 2020 that the external borders were closed. These actions affected legal migration into the European Union from four perspectives: 1) it affected the mobility of those third country nationals who were on temporary stay in the Member States; 2) the entry of third country nationals to do seasonal work; 3) the entry and stay of legal migrants; and 4) the status quo of the third country nationals already residing in the Member States, especially those who have a loss of income. This article will deal with the measures taken by Member States on who to manage the immigration services during the crisis as well as the measures taken in order to deal with overstayers, seasonal workers and other legal migrants. Finally, we will focus in the vulnerable situation that third-country national salaried workers are exposed due to the loss of income or loss of employment in the Member States and the risk of being returned to their country of origin. This presentation will also analyse the access to unemployment benefits.