Record 125 Migrants Packed Into One Boat Crossing Channel
A shocking new record has been set for the deadliest Channel crossing. On Saturday, around 125 migrants squeezed onto a single boat from France to the UK, smashing the previous record of 106 from August. The tragic journey claimed three lives over the weekend, including a child.
A teenager was found drowned off the French coast early Sunday. Two women, reported to be Somali, died from suffocation or drowning during a cramped crossing on Friday night. The horrific loss of life highlights the deadly risks migrants face on these desperate crossings.
Home Secretary Cracks Down on Channel Crossings
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood blasted migrant crossings as “utterly unacceptable,” blaming people smugglers for chaos at Britain’s borders. She confirmed the UK has started detaining and removing migrants under a new deal with France.
“Protecting the UK border is my priority as Home Secretary and I will explore all options to restore order to our immigration system.”
Since the deal launched on August 6, over 6,700 migrants have crossed in small boats. So far, four have been returned to France. The agreement allows quick removals for those ineligible for asylum, aiming to crush smuggling gangs and deter perilous journeys.
Channel Crossings Hit Record Highs in 2024
This year has seen a staggering 33,000 migrants arrive in the UK via small boats — the highest numbers since 2018. Over the weekend alone, 895 people reached British shores in 12 separate boats. The Channel continues to be the deadliest route in the ongoing migrant crisis.
French authorities have launched a criminal probe into the weekend’s deaths and the smuggling networks behind the crossings. French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau pledged to step up the fight against smugglers. Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron vowed to boost joint efforts.
Starmer Slams Reform Party’s Migration Plan as ‘Racist’
In a heated political row, Sir Keir Starmer condemned the Reform Party’s shock plan to strip migrants of “settled status” as “racist” and “immoral.” Reform wants to scrap indefinite leave to remain (ILR) for post-pandemic arrivals — a move set to affect 3.8 million people and save £234 billion in future benefits.
“It needs to be called out for what it is. It will rip this country apart.”
The Reform plan would exempt pensioners, Ukrainians, and Hong Kong migrants. Meanwhile, Starmer promised to end taxpayer-funded taxis for asylum seekers and speed up the closure of asylum hotels before 2029.
UK-France Deal Begins Repatriations
The latest “one in, one out” deal has started with the first migrants returned to France on Thursday — a family of three with a small child. Despite the chaos, the government insists it is taking historic steps to hit people smugglers hard and restore order to immigration.
