The Daily Mail reports that more than 20,000 migrants have now crossed the English Channel by small boat this year alone. The 2021 total so far stands at 20,198.
The number of migrants crossing the Channel this October was six times higher than in October 2020 – 475 made the crossing in October 2020 compared to 2,669 last month.
September saw the highest monthly total with 3,879 migrants making the dangerous crossing.
It is estimated that the annual total could reach 22,000, triple that of last year, it was reported in The Times.
There are allegedly around 2,000 migrants near Calais waiting for people smugglers.
The Government has already announced its Nationality & Borders Bill as a part of its New Plan for Immigration which aims to make the immigration system fairer and more effective, deter illegal entry into the UK and breaking the business model of criminal trafficking networks and remove those with no right to be here from the UK.
Commenting, Matt said:
“The numbers coming across the Channel are totally unacceptable. The persistent dangerous and illegal crossings facilitated by violent criminal gangs cannot be allowed to go on any longer.
“It’s clear that France cannot be relied upon. We need to take matters into our own hands and employ tried and tested measures to put an end to this route into the UK.
“Australia managed to cope with their crisis by utilising turn back techniques and offshore processing centres. I’m pleased that the Home Secretary is looking into both of these tactics, however she must act now before this issue spirals even further out of control.
“I get emails almost every day from asylum seekers across my constituency who have been waiting years for an interview – let alone a decision – on their case. The system is clearly under unprecedented strain and adding an extra 20,000 migrants on top of that is simply inexcusable and unfair on genuine refugees. Channel crossings in dinghies have no part to play in a civilised immigration or asylum system.
“The Home Secretary has stated that 70% of those coming over the Channel are economic migrants and we know the impact that can have on driving down wages for ordinary people and adding extra pressures to our public services. We must deliver the promised firm but fair immigration system so that immigration occurs in a way which benefits our national and economic interests.
“The Home Office really needs to pull its finger out and start turning its words into action. We need to see a tangible reduction in the numbers coming across.”
