Migrant Crisis Hits Record High as 45,000 Cross Channel in 2023
More than 45,000 migrants have braved the treacherous waters from France to England so far this year. That’s a sharp rise from the 28,500 crossings recorded in 2021.
Deadly Channel Crossing Shocks Nation
Tragedy struck on December 14 when a migrant boat ran into trouble, leaving four dead and 39 rescued. The harrowing incident has put fresh pressure on the government to act fast.
Sunak Vows Crackdown on People Smugglers
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has declared the Channel small boat surge a “top priority” for his administration. Officials confirmed that 90 migrants arriving on Sunday were processed at Dover’s Western Jet Foil centre.
“Nobody should put their lives in danger by embarking on dangerous and illegal journeys,”
a government spokesperson warned. “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.”
New Measures to Tackle the Crisis
- Sunak announced hiring 700 new staff for a dedicated unit to monitor Channel crossings.
- Additional personnel will be recruited to tackle the backlog of UK asylum cases by the end of next year.
With lives at stake and asylum queues growing, the government is under fire to find swift, tough solutions to the Channel crossing chaos.
