A record number of immigrants crossed the English Channel

More immigrants illegally crossed the English Channel from France to Great Britain than ever before in a single day. The government describes the figure as “unacceptable”.

A record number of migrants crossed the English Channel on Friday to enter the United Kingdom from France. As the Home Office announced in London on Friday, a total of 1,185 people, and thus for the first time more than 1,000, crossed from the mainland on Thursday. A government spokesman described the figure as “unacceptable”.

Pictures showed people, including women and children, arriving at the British coast near Dover in fully packed inflatable boats. According to estimates, about 23,000 immigrants have already arrived in the country this year – more than double the number in all of 2020.

This increases pressure on British Home Secretary Priti Patel. The conservative politician announced several times that she would stop illegal immigration. The BBC quoted a government source as accusing France of losing control of the situation on its coasts. Many people are waiting there for an opportunity to go to Great Britain. London supports French controls equivalent to about 63 million pounds sterling.

Children exposed to distress

As France’s Maritime Prefecture announced, 54 migrants who tried to cross the English Channel in small boats on Thursday were rescued. Those rescued, including two children, were taken to the ports of Calais, Dunkirk and Boulogne-sur-Mer. Two refugees were rescued from their kayaks to report three other refugees missing to the gendarmerie. But all attempts to find the three at sea with the help of a helicopter were unsuccessful.

The British government introduced a strict immigration system after Brexit. Home Secretary Patel wants to make it more difficult for migrants to seek asylum when they arrive. Blocking free movement is a Brexit promise made by Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservative Party.