Migrant crossings exceed 30,000 in record time as the UK faces a border crisis
The number of migrants arriving in the UK after crossing the English Channel has exceeded 30,000 in record time.
This is the latest milestone reached after record numbers of people have made the dangerous journey this year, despite ministers’ efforts to crack down on people smuggling gangs.
Newly appointed Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated the numbers were “utterly unacceptable” and that she expected migrant returns to begin “imminently” under a deal with France agreed last month.
On Saturday, 1,097 migrants crossed the Channel in 17 boats, bringing the total for 2025 so far to 30,100, according to Home Office figures.
This is an increase of 37% compared to this point last year (22,028) and 37% higher than at this stage in 2023 (21,918), according to an analysis by the PA news agency.
It is the earliest in a calendar year that the 30,000 mark has been surpassed since data on Channel crossings was first reported in 2018.
Last year, the figure wasn’t reached until October 30, and in 2023 it was never reached, as crossings totaled 29,437 for the entire year.
In 2022, the number was reached on September 21.
The record arrivals come as Ms. Mahmood was appointed Home Secretary on Friday, as part of a major government reshuffle following Angela Rayner’s resignation.
The former justice secretary is expected to unveil plans to move asylum seekers from hotels into military barracks as the government seeks to toughen its immigration policy amid rising numbers of crossings.
She said on Sunday: “These small boats crossings are utterly unacceptable, and the vile people smugglers behind them are causing chaos at our borders.
“Thanks to our deal with France, people crossing in small boats can now be detained and removed to France, and I expect the first returns to take place imminently.
“Protecting the UK border is my priority as Home Secretary, and I will explore all options to restore order to our immigration system.”
In her first major engagement in her new role, Ms. Mahmood will host counterparts from the Five Eyes security alliance for talks in London about people smuggling.
The Home Secretary stated that the intelligence-sharing pact made up of Britain, the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand would “agree on new measures to protect our border”.
Before the Cabinet reshuffle, her predecessor Yvette Cooper announced plans to change the rules for family reunions for refugees and suspended new applications to the existing route earlier this week.
Meanwhile, the migrant returns deal with France, which took effect in August, has yet to begin the first removals of people back to the continent.
The latest arrivals highlight the scale of the challenge for the new Home Secretary, after dissatisfaction over the summer with how the government has addressed small boat crossings and housed asylum seekers in hotels, leading to a wave of protests and criticism from Labour’s political opponents.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said he wants to accelerate efforts to empty asylum hotels before the next election but has not committed to a specific date.
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