Dozens of illegal migrants have been rescued after attempting to cross the English Channel to reach the UK.
Pictures have emerged on social media showing Border Force officers and boats bringing the migrants ashore, taking advantage of improving spring weather conditions. It comes after more than 100 illegal migrants were identified for the first wave of deportation to Rwanda, with the first voyage likely to depart next month.
The government is likely to overturn amendments to the Rwanda Bill tabled by the House of Lords, despite Labour’s plans to oppose tomorrow’s crucial vote.
The total number of asylum seekers arriving in the UK by boat is now approaching 3,330.
According to the latest Home Office statistics, 62 migrants arrived in the UK on a single boat on Sunday.
On 5 March, official Home Office figures showed that 2,983 asylum seekers had arrived on board 63 boats since 1 January. The following day, the number was 3,208 on 68 dinghies – an average of around 48 people in each boat – after around 100-150 were picked up on the far side of the mid-Channel.
A Home Office spokesman said:
“Our priority is to stop the boats, which is why we have taken robust action to crack down on vile people smuggling gangs, deter migrants from making dangerous crossings and, alongside our French counterparts, intercept vessels. Thanks to these tireless actions, the number of migrants arriving in Europe from Africa fell by 36 per cent last year, despite a rise of more than 70 per cent, and more than 26,000 attempts were prevented.”
Last year, 29,437 people made the crossing, compared to a record 45,755 in 2022.
Almost 30,000 migrants on board 601 boats were intercepted in the Channel in 2023 – the second highest number in a year.
