Migrant Crossings Surge to 45,000 This Year
More than 45,000 migrants have braved the dangerous Channel crossing from France to England so far in 2024. That’s a staggering jump from the 28,500 recorded in 2021.
Tragedy Strikes in Channel
Disaster hit on December 14 when a migrant boat ran into trouble, leaving four dead and 39 rescued in a dramatic rescue operation. The 90 people who arrived on Sunday were taken to the Western Jet Foil processing centre in dover/" title="Dover" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Dover.
Sunak Declares Small Boat Crisis Top Priority
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says tackling the Channel migrant crisis is at the top of his agenda. A government spokesperson warned: “Nobody should put their lives in danger by embarking on dangerous and illegal journeys.”
“We will go even further to combat the gangs that are driving this, using every tool at our disposal to deter illegal migration and disrupt the business model of people smugglers.”
Tough New Measures on the Horizon
Sunak recently unveiled bold plans to fight the surge, including hiring 700 new staff for a new unit to monitor small boats crossing the Channel.
He also promised to beef up the workforce handling asylum cases, aiming to clear a massive backlog by the end of next year.
