On Christmas Day, over 450 migrants crossed from France to England on small boats, marking the first arrivals in over a week. Eleven boats made it over on Wednesday morning, and more are expected in the coming days. The total number of arrivals was confirmed by official government figures from the Home Office. This recent influx brings the total number of people who have made the journey in 2024 to over 35,000, representing a 20% increase from last year.
Although arrivals had decreased for over a week, before then, there had been a significant influx of illegal migrants arriving via the Channel. In fact, as of mid-December, over 160 people had arrived within just three days. Despite fewer crossings this year compared to 2022, this is still a significant number of people making a perilous journey. As such, the UK government is continuing to work to stem the flow of migrants who risk their lives attempting to cross the Channel.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has previously acknowledged that the UK’s high border security standards are being undermined by small boats crossings. Likewise, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has made it a priority to help “smash the gangs” who facilitate these crossings. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has established a Border Security Command and is working with European neighbors to dismantle these organized crime groups. The goal of these measures is to create a secure border that will help to protect all those who live in the UK while stopping illegal migrants from risking their lives in an attempt to reach the UK
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