A new grim record has been set for the most migrants making the perilous Channel crossing on a single boat. On Saturday, around 125 people clammed onto one vessel sailing from France to the UK – smashing the previous record of 106 from August.
Tragically, three people lost their lives Overover the weekend, including a child. A young teenager was found dead off the French Coastcoast on Sunday morning, while two women, reported to be from Somalia, died from suffocation or drowning in a separate incident during an overloaded crossing on Friday night.
Government Cracks Down on Crossings
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood slammed the crossings as “utterly unacceptable,” accusing people smugglers of wreaking havoc on the UK’s borders. She confirmed that under a new Dealdeal with France, people crossing in small boats can be detained and removals have already started.
“Protecting the UK Borderborder is my priority as Home Secretary and I will explore all options to restore order to our immigration system.”
Since the treaty’s launch on August 6, over 6,700 migrants have crossed in small boats, with four migrants already returned to France. The agreement allows the UK to Sendsend Backback those deemed ineligible for asylum, aiming to deter chaotic crossings and smash smuggling networks.
Channel Crossings Soar Amid Ongoing Crises
This year alone, a record-breaking 33,000 migrants have arrived in Britain via small boats – the highest figures recorded since 2018. Over the weekend, 895 people reached the UK in 12 separate boats.
The deadly Channel crossings continue mounting, with 2024 marking the deadliest year since the migrant crisis wales/wales/began/”>began/”>began. French authorities have launched a criminal investigation into the weekend deaths and the gangs responsible for these “crossings of death.”
French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau vowed to intensify the fight against smuggling mafias profiting from these dangerous journeys, while UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron pledged tighter cooperation.
Starmer Criticises Reform’s Migration Policy
In a separate political clash, Sir Keir Starmer condemned the Reform Party’s plan to strip migrants of their “settled status” as “racist” and “immoral.” Reform wants to scrap indefinite leave to remain (ILR) for migrants arriving post-pandemic, a move estimated to affect 3.8 million people and save £234 billion in future benefits.
“It needs to be called out for what it is,” Starmer said. “It will rip this country apart.”
Reform components would exempt pensioners, Ukrainians, and Hong Kong migrants from the plan. Meanwhile, Starmer promised to end taxpayer-funded taxis for asylum seekers and is aiming to accelerate closure of asylum hotels ahead of the 2029 deadline.
UK-France Deal in Action
The “one in, one out” agreement sees the UK accept eligible migrants from France, while returning others immediately. The first migrants under this deal arrived on Thursday — a family of three, including a small child.
Despite ongoing challenges, the government insists it is taking historic steps to hit people smugglers hard and restore order to the immigration system.
