Over 2,500 Small-Boat Channel Crossings Since UK-France Migrant Deal
More than 2,500 migrants have crossed the English Channel in small boats in the 11 days since the UK and France introduced the "one in, one out" asylum agreement, Home Office figures show.
Channel Crossings Surge After New UK-France Agreement
Over 2,500 migrants have crossed the Channel in small boats in the 11 days following the implementation of the UK-France "one in, one out" migration deal, according to Home Office data. Under the scheme, for every person returned to France, another with a strong UK asylum claim can stay.
This year, around 28,000 people have reached the UK by small boats, with more than 50,000 crossings recorded since July 2024.
Smugglers and Risks
A vessel carrying over 100 people was spotted in the Channel this week. The Home Office warns that people-smuggling gangs "do not care if the vulnerable people they exploit live or die, as long as they pay".
Volunteer aid worker Rob Lawrie told INLIBER’s Today Programme that smugglers estimate they can send up to 150 people per boat, leading to severe overcrowding and reports of children being crushed.
Detentions and Pilot Scheme
The first group detained under the pilot arrived in Dover earlier this month. Removals to France have not yet begun and could take up to three months. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: "If you break the law to enter this country, you will face being sent back."
The 11-month scheme will admit equal numbers of asylum seekers who have not attempted the crossing and pass security and eligibility checks. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has called the deal "having no deterrent effect whatsoever."
International Enforcement Efforts
The National Crime Agency has disrupted smuggling operations, seizing 20 inflatable boats in Bulgaria. The government says this highlights the need for international cooperation to tackle illegal immigration.
Asylum-Seeker Nationalities
Afghans were the most common nationality arriving by small boat in the year to March 2025, followed by Syrians, Iranians, Vietnamese and Eritreans, accounting for 61% of arrivals. In 2024, nearly one third of the 108,000 UK asylum claims came via small boats.
Under the 1951 Refugee Convention, individuals facing threats to life or freedom have the right to seek asylum in another state.
This pilot scheme aims to balance returns with legal asylum routes, but its deterrent effect remains untested until removals accelerate.
This topic was reported by BBC News.
Discover the latest news and current events in World News as of 17-08-2025. The article titled " Over 2,500 Small-Boat Channel Crossings Since UK-France Migrant Deal " provides you with the most relevant and reliable information in the World News field. Each news piece is thoroughly analyzed to deliver valuable insights to our readers.
The information in " Over 2,500 Small-Boat Channel Crossings Since UK-France Migrant Deal " helps you make better-informed decisions within the World News category. Our news articles are continuously updated and adhere to journalistic standards.