The number of illegal immigrants crossing the English Channel has hit a new annual record, after almost 600 people arrived from France in England on Sunday, British media report.
Good weather over the weekend led to a significant increase in the number of dinghies attempting the crossing, just days after British Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced millions of pounds in additional funding to combat human trafficking gangs, writes A2 CNN.
In total, 592 people made it across in just 11 dinghies, making it the busiest day since last December. This brings the total number of migrants arriving so far in 2025 to 2,716, a figure higher than the 2,255 migrants who crossed in the same period last year when the government was still under Conservative rule.
The Conservative Party's shadow home secretary, Chris Philp, called the situation a "real disgrace" and accused Labour of losing control of Britain's borders. He said the cancellation of the Rwanda deportation plan was a "catastrophic mistake".
Meanwhile, a spokesman for Prime Minister Keir Starmer responded by saying the government was taking concrete steps to bring the asylum system under control and combat trafficking gangs. He cited the creation of the Border Security Unit and the 24 percent increase in deportations.
The £500 million deal between Britain and France to patrol French beaches and build a detention centre has yet to be fully implemented. However, French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau has signalled that French police will start stopping migrants in shallow waters.
Since 2018, only 3 percent of migrants who have crossed the Channel have been deported. (A2 Televizion)
A2 CNN Livestream
MUND TE LEXONI GJITHASHTU
