BEN STANSALL / AFP
More than 10,000 migrants have crossed the Channel since the start of 2024, a record. (Photo: Migrants cross the English Channel on an inflatable boat towards Dover on the south coast of England.)
INTERNTIONAL – A sad record. More than 10,000 migrants have arrived in the United Kingdom after crossing the Channel since the start of 2024. This is despite the adoption in April of a bill allowing the expulsion of asylum seekers to Rwanda. asylum who entered the UK illegally, meant to be a deterrent for migrants.
This number of crossings is a record reached in the middle of the campaign for the July 4 legislative elections in the country. Illegal immigration is the major subject of this campaign officially launched by the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, on Wednesday. The latter had promised to put an end to the arrival of irregular migrants and had even made it one of his priorities.
35% increase compared to 2023
But on Friday, five new boats reached the south of England, with 288 migrants on board, according to figures from the Interior Ministry published on Saturday. This pushed the death toll to 10,170 people, most of whom come from Afghanistan, Iran and Turkey. This represents an increase of more than 35% compared to last year.
The Conservative government hoped to deter migrants from coming to the UK with its law to deport thousands of asylum seekers to Rwanda.
On Thursday, Rishi Sunak acknowledged that this very controversial project would probably not be implemented before the election. He said he wanted to see the first flights take off after the election if he wins.
Labor promises to abandon expulsion policy
“Rishi Sunak will take bold action to stop the boats” of migrants, insisted on X the Minister of the Interior James Cleverly on Saturday.
Labor, which is more than 20 points ahead of the Conservatives in the polls, has promised that it will abandon the policy of expelling migrants to Rwanda, criticizing a “gadget” expensive and ineffective.
“The government has lost control of our borders”, said Keir Starmer, the leader of the opposition and future prime minister if Labor wins the election. The Labor Party also believes that immigration is too high and has promised to deploy means inspired by the fight against terrorism to fight against smuggling gangs.
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