The system is broken – #47years for the Home Office to register all EU citizens legally living in the UK – Our reaction following the publication of the latest data from the Home Office

the3million is a grass-root organisation of EU citizens from other member states living in the UK. It offers a support network to EU citizens and lobbies the government to protect the rights of EU citizens in the UK.

It takes its name from the estimated number of EU citizens who moved from another member state and live and work, and have generally established their life in the UK, many for a very long time.The Home Office released new data on the 1 December 2016 on applications for the 'permanent residence' card by EU citizens. While numbers have risen to an all-time high, the figures clearly show the current system will not be able to process the 3 million non-British EU citizens currently living and working in the UK and support their right to remain. Based on the latest data it would take 47 years to register the 3 million EU citizens currently living and working in the UK.

• Primary Source

The Guardian, 01.12.16: Brexit: 1m EU citizens in Britain 'could be at risk of deportation' https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/dec/01/brexit-eu-citizens-living-britain-risk-deportation-3-million-campaign-european-union

The Guardian, 01.12.16: EU citizens in Britain post Brexit vote: ‘I feel betrayed, not at home, sad https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/dec/01/eu-citizens-in-britain-post-brexit-vote-feel-betrayed-not-at-home-sad

ESO: In Focus: Brexit - The United Kingdom and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union/

United Kingdom: Parliament: House of Lords: Committees: EU Select Committee: EU Justice Sub-Committee: Inquiry: Brexit: acquired rights inquiry (Oct 2016-) http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/lords-select/eu-justice-subcommittee/inquiries/parliament-2015/brexit-acquired-rights-inquiry/

ESO: Background information: When can EU citizens be expelled from the UK after Brexit? The Human Rights Dimension http://www.europeansources.info/record/when-can-eu-citizens-be-expelled-from-the-uk-after-brexit-the-human-rights-dimension/

ESO: Background information: Why EU nationals in Britain are hurrying to get one piece of paper http://www.europeansources.info/record/why-eu-nationals-in-britain-are-hurrying-to-get-one-piece-of-paper/

IPPR: Press Release, 01.12.16: Surge in EU applications for settlement post-Brexit http://www.ippr.org/news-and-media/press-releases/surge-in-eu-applications-for-settlement-post-brexit

The Guardian, 27.01.17: Fewer Britons living in EU than previously thought, study finds https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jan/27/fewer-britons-in-rest-of-europe-than-previously-thought-ons-research

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