As the UK is tightening its asylum policies many migrants are trying to make their way to the country before decisive changes are enacted into law. This week marked a new record of at least 9,000 people arriving on British shores since the beginning of 2022.
Britain has announced plans to send migrants and refugees who cross the Channel thousands of miles away — to Rwanda. The deal announced on Thursday led to widespread criticism.
The UK has expressed plans to set up a scheme to allow more refugees fleeing the Ukraine to enter Britain, without specifying further details. However, the announcement has also been met with criticism both at home and abroad, with various leaders saying it might be too little, too late.
More than 28,500 people arrived in Britain by crossing the English Channel from France in small boats in 2021. These irregular journeys to the UK across one of the world's busiest shipping lanes have been sharply on the rise in recent years.
In recent years more and more migrants have been crossing, or have attempted to cross, the English Channel on small boats. Despite a deadly shipwreck in November that claimed the lives of 27 people, crossing attempts have continued unabated. Why are migrants risking their lives instead of staying in the EU and seeking protection there?
In the last few days, over 300 migrants have made it across the English Channel from France to the UK. More than 100 were intercepted by French authorities before they got to set sail from the coast. One person was declared dead.
Following the drowning of 27 people in the English Channel, France says it is preparing a new post-Brexit deal on migration. But Paris also asked the UK to stop "double speak."
France told Britain on Monday to stop "giving lessons" on migrants in an increasingly acrimonious row between London and Paris over the numbers crossing the Channel.
After spending most of his adult life on the migrant trail, Alex, originally from Iran, tried to cross the English Channel from France twice. He talked to a French filmmaker and the film was posted just as the latest row broke out between Britain and France about how to stop people like him from attempting the crossing at all.
A lack of truck drivers has led to delivery bottlenecks and fuel rationing across the UK. Industry associations estimate Britain needs 100,000 more drivers to meet demand.
A record number of migrants have crossed the English Channel from France on a single day, pushing annual figures beyond last year's numbers. At least 482 people made the trip across the Channel in the latest instance.
More and more people are arriving in the UK on boats or are intercepted in the English Channel. At the same time, overall migration to the UK remains at a steady level. Politicians, however, are still using images of dinghies washing up on British shores as political capital. And with a key Brexit deadline looming, things might get even more complicated in Brexit-Britain.