On May 1st, 711 illegal migrants successfully crossed the treacherous English Channel, reaching British shores in a single day.
This unprecedented influx marks the highest number of arrivals in 2024, surpassing the previous peak of 534 on 14 April. Despite efforts to stem the tide of unsafe crossings, these astonishing figures underline the escalating immigration crisis facing the UK.
The steady flow of migrants has reached alarming levels. In the first four months of 2024, more than 8,000 people have already reached English shores, mainly from Afghanistan, Iran and Turkey. Compared with the same period last year, when fewer than 6,000 arrivals were recorded, this figure represents a substantial increase.
These record arrivals coincide with the UK government's implementation of its controversial plan for Rwanda. Designed to deter asylum seekers from making perilous journeys across the Channel, the controversial policy allows migrants to be deported to the East African country for processing.
The Home Office, in a statement issued on 1 May, welcomed the scheme as "another important step" in its "wider plan to end small boat crossings".
Notably, the government has claimed to have reduced crossings by more than a third by 2023, although the recent increase casts doubt on the effectiveness of such measures.
66 Illegal Migrants Rescued, Including 3 Children
The 711 immigrants who crossed on Wednesday could have been joined by 66 others, who ultimately did not make it to the end of their crossing.
The French Gendarmerie Maritime rescued them off the coast of Dieppe, following an alert received in the middle of the day. Among the survivors were three children, including a baby.
"The boat was in difficulty, notably due to engine damage, and asked to be taken in charge", said Jean-Benoît Albertini, Seine-Maritime Region Prefect, in a statement to Paris-Normandie.
The Dieppe SNSM was initially dispatched to the area to check the condition of the passengers and the boat, according to the Préfecture Maritime de la Manche et de la Mer du Nord.
The Yser launch from the Gendarmerie Maritime then took over. The operation continued throughout the afternoon, until the Gendarmerie Maritime boat docked with all the passengers in the port of Dieppe at around 7.45pm.
To exacerbate the crisis, the departure points for Channel crossings have spread southwards, with some boats setting off beyond the Bay of the Somme, more than 150 kilometres from the Strait of Pas-de-Calais. This geographical shift is making it more difficult for the authorities to monitor and intercept the crossings.
Three individuals involved in the foiled crossing at Dieppe have been arrested and taken into custody, while investigations into the attempted illegal entry are continuing. Officials remain determined in their efforts to dismantle the smuggling networks and prevent further crossings, although the escalating figures suggest that this is a formidable and ongoing challenge.