Dozens of migrants arrived in Dover this morning after trying to make the crossing across the Channel, bringing the total number to reach the UK illegally this year to almost 10,200.
‘Nearly 100’ illegal migrants were picked up by UK Border Force officers at the port of Kent today, a witness said, taking the provisional total for this year to 10,188.
The number is slightly lower than the same period last year, which saw a record-breaking total of 45,755 crossings throughout 2022.
The Border Force vessel Defender brought the latest batch of asylum seekers to port, as Britain experienced its longest day today after weeks of soaring temperatures.
Photos of the arrivals show a group of mostly young men wearing red life jackets.
More than 50 illegal migrants were picked up by UK Border Force officers at the port of Kent today, a witness said, taking the provisional total to 10,188.
The number is slightly lower than the same period last year, which saw a record-breaking total of 45,755 crossings throughout 2022. Pictured are the migrants arriving this morning
The provisional number of immigrants arriving in the UK in 2023 is illustrated
An eyewitness said the channel’s slightly dilapidated condition meant only a few migrants arrived today.
This was a change from the start of the month, which saw crossings increase following a quiet spell, with 2,529 people reported to have arrived between June 10 and 17.
Over the weekend, 707 people were detected on 14 boats in the treacherous crossing from France, the Defense Ministry said.
However, poor weather earlier in the week saw UK arrivals fall slightly, with just 46 departing on Monday and none yesterday.
However, the total number of crossings so far this year is below the same number as at this point last year.
More than 11,300 crossings have been detected by 17 June 2022 – 1,000 more than the 10,188 detected so far in 2023.
The Home Office and the French government will join forces to launch a surveillance plane that will fly across the English Channel 24/7 to catch people smugglers.
The move, designed to cut the overall number of migrants and vulnerable asylum seekers crossing the Channel in small boats, is seen as the ‘final piece of the puzzle’ to cut crossings.
Dozens of migrants were pictured being brought into Dover today, days after more than 200 were stopped by Border Force officers trying to cross the Channel.
Migrants were taken to Dover by Border Force vessel Defender today (pictured)
Around 10,000 have already made the perilous crossing in small boats this year, with more than 45,000 set to make the journey in 2022.
The news comes after the French interior minister told RFI on Thursday: ‘We are guarding the border for the British people. So you would expect thanks instead of complaints.’
The plane is said to be all-weather capable, meaning it will not be affected by conditions that currently affect drones employed in similar roles, which cannot fly in heavy cloud cover.
The aircraft is expected to improve the ability of French and English authorities to prosecute people smugglers due to its ability to film crossings for evidence of possible legal action.
It will also improve authorities’ ability to track boats making dangerous crossings.
Meanwhile, an investigation has revealed how Albanian migrants who entered the UK illegally are paying traffickers up to £30,000 to provide fake families.
Migrants are being offered sham marriages via TikTok by gangs who have recruited British or EU single mothers and their children.
The investigation found that TikTok videos were being targeted at prisoners trying to fight deportation from the UK, as well as those who entered the country illegally.
The migrants were brought ashore in Dover earlier this week after being lifted by border forces
After the latest TikTok scandal emerged it was revealed that Albanian gangs had launched an advertising blitz offering stowaway trips to migrants trying to come to the UK as well as Channel crossings.
More than a quarter of the 45,755 people who crossed the Channel in small boats last year came from Albania.
The Telegraph reported that a TikTok account was posting clips offering to act as middle-men to link migrants with gang-recruited mothers.
The account, created on May 10, also offered a service to find guarantors who would provide fake UK addresses.
These services can help an illegal immigrant get immigration bail, which they can currently do if they have a place to stay in the UK.
A Home Office spokesman said: ‘The unacceptable number of people risking their lives by making these dangerous crossings is putting unprecedented pressure on our asylum system.
‘Our priority is to stop the boats, and our Small Boat Operational Command is working with our French partners and other agencies to stop people smugglers.
‘The Government has gone further by introducing legislation which will ensure that those arriving in the UK illegally are detained and immediately removed to their country of origin or a safe third country.’
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