872 arrivals of migrants were detected this Saturday, on small boats during a crossing of the English Channel. This is a record since the beginning of the year, due to the fact that the weather is more favorable to sea travel. In total, more than 21,000 people have arrived in the United Kingdom by this means since the beginning. of the year.
British authorities have detected 872 arrivals of migrants crossing the Channel on small boats on Saturday alone, a record since the start of the year due to favorable weather. In total, more than 21,000 people have arrived in the UK this way since the start of the year, a number which suggests a slight drop in the pace compared to the more than 45,000 arrivals detected last year, according to the daily report. published by the government. Summer remains the best time for these perilous crossings and the month of August saw a monthly record, with more than 5,300 people arriving on a hundred small boats.
More than 100,000 people to have crossed
The subject is sensitive for the conservative government of Rishi Sunak, which has made the fight against this illegal immigration one of its priorities. Despite tougher legislation, which now prohibits migrants who arrived illegally on British soil from seeking asylum, the government is struggling to curb this phenomenon which has exploded in recent years and caused several shipwrecks causing dozens of deaths. The government also plans to expel migrants to their countries or third countries such as Rwanda, a project blocked as it stands by the courts.
More than 100,000 people have crossed the English Channel on small boats from France since the UK started recording arrivals in 2018. Most are seeking asylum, which has caused a backlog in the reception system and processing of these requests, with more than 175,000 people waiting for a decision at the end of June.