The number of migrants who have crossed the Channel in boats this year to try their luck in the UK exceeded 40,000 on Sunday, the British Ministry of Defense announced.
According to government figures, 972 people crossed on 22 small boats on Saturday. This brings the total since the beginning of the year to 40,885.
Many migrants – mostly Albanians, Iranians and Afghans – have never made the perilous crossing. In the whole of 2021, 28,526 were counted, a record at the time.
The growing numbers are putting pressure on the British government. Combating immigration has been a Conservative priority since Brexit. But the asylum application system is extremely dubious.
Successive governments in London have already launched all kinds of ideas and measures, such as artificial waves to keep migrant boats away from British waters or send migrants to distant islands. Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson had struck a deal with Rwanda to fly asylum seekers who failed in the UK to the African country. But this project is currently at a standstill.
‘Invade’
Britain’s Home Secretary Suella Braverman recently called the wave of migrants an “invasion”, comments that prompted the United Nations’ “horrifying” reaction.
The canal crossing also sparked resentment between the UK and France, accused of not doing enough to stop the migrants. The British are now said to be willing to give France another 80 million pounds (91 million euros) to boost the police presence on the beaches.
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