More than 20,000 migrants have illegally crossed the Channel to England since the start of the year, according to government figures quoted by the British agency PA, Sunday August 14. The total reached 20,017 people, against 11,300 on the same date last year. These figures are therefore pointing towards a new crossing record this year.
A recent UK parliamentary report (in English) estimated that the total could reach 60,000 illegal crossings this year. The British Conservative government had nevertheless made the subject a priority since Brexit, paying millions to France, helping it to strengthen coastal surveillance and increasing measures to toughen the reception of migrants.
London has notably concluded a very controversial agreement with Rwanda, in order to send to this East African country asylum seekers who have arrived illegally on British soil. Although none of these deportations has yet taken place – a first flight scheduled for June was canceled after a decision by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) – the candidates for the succession of Boris Johnson, Both Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss have promised to continue this policy.
Another setback in British migration policy, the government has just abandoned its plan to convert a former air force base in northern England into a center for asylum seekers, as is done in Greece.