Home » World News »
Border Force intercepts migrants trying to cross the Channel in boats
Border Force intercepts 22 migrants including women and children trying to cross the Channel in two boats taking total this week to 31
- More than 20 migrants are caught by UK Border Force trying to cross on boats
- Two small boats were intercepted in the early hours of this morning in Channel
- There were people from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq and the Philippines on board
- The migrants were brought to Dover and transferred to immigration officials
More than 20 migrants have been picked up travelling across the English Channel in a single morning.
Two small boats with 11 migrants each travelled across the Channel towards the UK shoreline early on Tuesday.
The two boats had nationals of Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, and the Philippines on board.
Migrants are pictured being helped by authorities in Dover today. The total number of migrants who have made it across the Dover Strait – the world’s busiest shipping lane – has exceed 1,000 already this year
A Border Force cutter boat was deployed this morning and intercepted the two vessels.
Some migrants reported to be children were transferred to the cutter boat, along with the migrant adults.
The individuals were taken to Dover, where they were medically assessed and found to be well, before being transferred to immigration officials for interview.
Two small boats with 11 migrants each travelled across the Channel towards the UK shoreline early on Tuesday. One of the boats is pictured above on the beach in Greatstone, Kent earlier today
The two boats had nationals of Pakistan , Iran , Afghanistan , and the Philippines on board. The migrants are pictured on UK shores being helped by authorities
The total number of migrants who have made it across the Dover Strait – the world’s busiest shipping lane – has exceed 1,000 already this year, despite millions being spent on security measures to prevent crossings.
Of that figure, more than 200 have made it from France to Britain in August alone. Most of the migrants claim to be either Iran or Iraq nationals.
It comes as it was revealed a makeshift migrant camp which has sprung up on the outskirts of a French port – has seen its population rise to 1,100.
A huge cluster of tents have been pitched in the grounds of a disused gym at Grande-Synthe on the outskirts of the French port of Dunkirk has seen a huge influx of migrants trying to make it to Britain.
Police and ambulance services are pictured at the scene. The individuals were taken to Dover, where they were medically assessed and found to be well, before being transferred to immigration officials for interview
Nearly 40,000 failed asylum seekers are still in the UK as the numbers being removed drop by half in four years
by Terri-Ann Williams
Close to 40,000 failed asylum seekers are still residing in the UK despite being targeted for removal, as numbers of those being relocated are revealed to have dropped by half in four years.
Official figures released by the Home Office have been branded a ‘disgrace’ by Tory MP Philip Hollobone, after the government had previously come under fire for its ‘hostile environment’ towards migrants.
The UK’s policy on immigration has been fiercely criticised after the Windrush scandal which unfairly forced families of West Indian migrants to leave.
It has now been acknowledged that many failed asylum seekers across the UK will never leave and in doing so, will form a right to stay.
Above is a scene of the Dover Border Force stopping a small dinghy carrying migrants across the English channel
The group of people were taken ashore after being found trying to cross the Channel in three boats on August 27
Figures show that the number of unsuccessful applicants branded ‘subject to removal action’ rose 39,932 in the year to June, up from 34,752.
These latest figures come as nearly 150 migrants were found trying to cross the Channel into the UK over the last week.
On Friday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned illegal migrants that they would be sent back if they risked crossing the Channel.
This is while the number of rejected applicants has actually fallen, and according to The Times, only 3,471 left the country in the year to June, down 27 per cent from 4,819 the previous year.
Conservative MP for Kettering, Mr Hollobone said: ‘These asylum figures are a national disgrace. The number of failed asylum seekers awaiting removal is going up while the number of removals is going down. The longer these people stay in this country illegally, the greater the chance they never, ever leave. The new home secretary needs to get a grip on this immediately.’
A group of people brought to shore by Border Force officers at the Port of Dover this morning
This year more than 850 migrants have crossed the Channel, but the Home Office has claimed that more than 65 of those found had returned to Europe.
This is while home secretary Priti Patel gave her department just 72 hours to conjure an emergency plan to tackle the issue.
Ms Patel has since been in contact with the French interior minister Christophe Castaner, with sources claiming we need French support.
‘The focus will be on practical support to assist French patrols to deter migrants from embarking upon these perilous crossings organised by criminal gangs.’
The 40,000 which are subject to removal can also make further submissions in their cases such as last minute legal challenges.
Home Secretary, Priti Patel, can be seen above during a visit to the Port of Dover to meet with officials to discuss how to ensure the UK’s smooth exit from the EU. Miss Patel has given the Home Office a 72 hour ultimatum to come up with an emergency plan to tackle the English Channel’s migrant crisis
Former director general of immigration enforcement at the Home Office, David Wood said: ‘In reality the longer they stay the more difficult it is to remove them as they get married, have children and build roots in the UK. They then can make further claims to stay on the basis of the right to family life.
‘The normal rule we worked on was once immigrants had been here for ten years you could not remove them and they would successfully apply for indefinite leave to remain. You will not find anything written down but that was generally the reality.
‘The number of removals has fallen off a cliff. Resources for immigration enforcement have dwindled and you would need a lot more cash and manpower to be able to boost the numbers.’
Source: Read Full Article