English Channel: Over 21,000 illegal immigrants already crossing the border by 2023

Since 2018, when the British government began counting the number of people arriving in France, more than 100,000 people have departed from France on dangerous boats.

The number of migrants crossing the English Channel from northern France to Britain is set to break new daily records by 2023, government statistics released on Sunday showed.

Some 872 people crossed the canal on 15 boats, breaking the previous record set on August 10, when 756 people ventured on the treacherous journey.

More than 21,000 migrants have arrived on Britain’s south coast so far this year, according to AFP.

However, this figure is lower than that reported for the same period in 2022, although it continues to pose major political problems for the UK government.

London has vowed to tighten border controls after leaving the European Union (EU) at the end of 2020. The current prime minister, Conservative Rishi Sunak, has prioritized “intercepting boats of undocumented migrants”.

The government has failed to stop the phenomenon, which has intensified in recent years and killed dozens, despite tightening legislation that prevents migrants who arrived on British soil illegally from claiming asylum.

Last week, the British government reported on the possibility of installing electronic locators for migrants crossing the English Channel by boat, a move that drew criticism and reaction from human rights groups.

Meanwhile, plans to send migrants to Rwanda or other countries continue to be blocked by judges. In June, the UK Court of Appeal ruled that Rwanda could not be considered a safe third country because of the risks faced by migrants.

In its strategy to curb immigration, in April, the British government introduced a controversial measure to accommodate asylum seekers crossing the English Channel: a barge called the Bibby Stockholm in Port, Dorset. near the coast. South of England, up to 500 people.

“Bibby Stockholm” didn’t welcome its first 39 occupants until August after fire safety concerns caused delays. However, on August 11, due to the detection of bacteria causing severe mutant pneumonia on board, a health emergency led to the evacuation of all passengers on board.

The Home Office is also considering the use of tents as a housing solution for asylum seekers in a move aimed at cutting costs.

By the end of March 2023, the UK had received over 47,000 applicants in hotels across the country.

The government has kept around 5,000 vacant hotel beds as a measure to prevent overcrowding in detention centres, according to Home Office sources.

As of the end of June this year, more than 175,000 people were awaiting a decision on whether to grant them refugee status, a 44% increase on last year.

(Teram)