In a marked decline from the previous year, nearly 30,000 migrants crossed the perilous waters of the English Channel from mainland Europe to Britain in small boats in 2023, according to government figures released on Monday.
While this represents an annual drop of more than a third, the unauthorized arrival of 29,437 people on the southeast English coast still stands as the second-largest yearly tally since officials began disclosing these numbers in 2018.
These perilous journeys across one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes have evolved into a significant political challenge for Britain’s Conservative government.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who committed last year to “stop the boats” as one of his five key promises for 2023, now faces potential ramifications as he approaches a general election scheduled for later this year.
Sunak, in office for nearly 15 months, recently stated that there is no “firm date” for meeting his pledge, adding a layer of uncertainty to a commitment that has become a focal point of political discourse.
Despite this, Sunak is likely to emphasize the 36 percent reduction in small-boat arrivals last year, highlighting progress after a record 45,000 migrants made the journey in 2022.
The government attributes this reduction to a £480 million ($610 million) agreement with France aimed at intensifying efforts to curb migrant crossings.
Additionally, fast-track return deals with countries like Albania are believed to be contributing to the positive trend.
However, the Labour Party, the main opposition, asserts that Sunak has failed to keep his promise, characterizing his immigration policy as chaotic.
The Conservative government’s attempt to deter Channel crossings included preventing unauthorized migrants from applying for asylum and considering relocation to Rwanda.
However, this policy hit a roadblock after the UK Supreme Court ruled that deporting individuals to the East African country was illegal under international law.
The cross-Channel journeys on small inflatable vessels, often overloaded and unseaworthy, have tragically proven deadly, underscoring the human cost of these migrations.
In addition to addressing small-boat arrivals, the UK government is under pressure to reduce record levels of immigration through pre-authorized channels.
The number in the year to June 2023 is estimated to be 672,000 more than those who left the country.
Ministers have announced various measures in the past year aimed at lowering this annual tally by 300,000. Notably, a recent change that came into force on Monday prevents almost all international students from bringing family members with them.
Interior Minister James Cleverly defended this decision, calling the previous practice of permitting dependents to accompany foreign students “unreasonable” and expressed confidence that the new rules “will see migration falling rapidly by the tens of thousands” as part of the broader strategy to prevent 300,000 people from coming to the UK.
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