Nearly 1,200 Migrants Cross English Channel in Single Day
A startling 1,194 migrants arrived in the United Kingdom on Saturday after crossing the English Channel in small boats, marking the highest daily total so far this year. The figure, reported by AFP, brings the 2025 tally to 14,808 crossings—an unprecedented level for the first five months of any year since 2018.
According to AFP, French coastal authorities also saved nearly 200 people from perilous Channel waters between Friday night and Saturday evening. In one alarming incident, a boat carrying 61 migrants suffered engine failure, leaving its occupants stranded until rescuers intervened. In another case, nine individuals called for assistance after their vessel began taking on water.
Despite intensified cooperation between British and French authorities to curb small-boat crossings, the numbers continue to rise. UK Defence Secretary John Healey described the situation as “Pretty shocking” during a Sunday interview with Sky News. “We saw the smugglers launching elsewhere and coming around like a taxi to pick them up,” he said, adding that “Britain’s lost control of its borders.”
Latest News
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is under mounting pressure from right-wing parties and concerned voters demanding stricter immigration measures. In response, the Home Office stated: “We all want to end dangerous small boat crossings, which threaten lives and undermine our border security.” The government recently introduced new policies, including extending the waiting period for migrants to qualify for settlement and granting authorities broader powers to deport foreign nationals convicted of crimes.
A broader legislative effort, the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, is currently under parliamentary review. However, Saturday’s total of 1,194 crossings fell just short of the all-time daily record of 1,300 set in September 2022. Tragically, at least 15 people have died so far in 2025 attempting the dangerous journey across one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.
Analysts warn that without more robust deterrence and increased collaboration with European partners, the small-boat crisis is likely to worsen. For now, hundreds remain in U.K. immigration centers awaiting asylum claims, while lawmakers debate how best to safeguard lives and maintain border integrity.
#UKBorderCrisis #ChannelCrossings #MigrationNews #KeirStarmer #ImmigrationPolicy #RefugeeCrisis #AFPReport #BorderSecurity