Another 100 migrants including women and children beat asylum ban deadline to arrive in Dover
Another 100 migrants, including women and children, have passed the asylum ban deadline to arrive in Dover after being caught crossing the Channel in small boats
- The migrants were landed on two Border Force ships
- They arrived at the port of Dover in Kent on Friday morning
Dozens of migrants were intercepted today by the Border Force as they crossed the Channel in small boats – the largest group since the government unveiled its controversial illegal migration law last week.
At least 100 people, including women and children, were disembarked Friday morning on two Border Force ships in the docks of Kent’s Dover harbor.
The majority were landed on the large catamaran Volunteer, while a smaller group could be seen aboard the Defender.
They were escorted down the aisle at the immigration processing center at the former jetfoil terminal in the port complex.
It comes after 51 people were brought into the port early evening last Saturday.
At least 100 people, including women and children, were disembarked Friday morning on two Border Force ships in the docks of Kent’s Dover harbor.
The migrants were escorted through the gangway at the immigration processing center at the former jetfoil terminal in the port complex
The majority of the migrants were landed on the large catamaran Volunteer, while a smaller group could be seen aboard the Defender
It brings the total figure for 2023 to 3,198 migrants arriving in 74 boats – an average of 43 migrants on each boat.
The arrivals were the first since it was announced that Channel migrants would be banned for life from entering Britain under proposed laws.
The strict new measures mean that any asylum seeker who arrives illegally by small boat will be indefinitely denied entry into the country.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who introduced the new laws last week, said: ‘The only route to the UK will be a safe and legal route’.
Although the migrants arrived after the bill was introduced, they will continue to be processed as normal, according to the Interior Ministry.
The new laws are also expected to prevent migrants from using human rights laws to avoid removal from Britain.
Saturday’s arrivals are the first to reach the UK since March 6, when 197 people made the treacherous journey in one boat.
Since then, strong winds had prevented the crossing.
Last year, a total of 45,728 people made the treacherous journey through the 21-mile Straits of Dover in 1,104 boats, compared to 28,526 in 2021.
The busiest day last year was August 22, when 1,295 migrants crossed the Channel in dinghies or other small craft in a 24-hour period.
And officials have predicted that the number of people crossing the Channel in small boats could double this year – possibly rising to 80,000.
A spokesman for the Ministry of the Interior said: ‘The unacceptable number of people risking their lives making this dangerous crossing is placing an unprecedented strain on our asylum system.
“Our priority is to stop this illegal trade, and our new Small Boats Operational Command – supported by hundreds of additional personnel – is working with our French partners and other agencies to disrupt the people smugglers.
“We are also going further by introducing legislation to ensure that people arriving illegally in the UK are detained and swiftly transferred to another country.”
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