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English Channel migrant crossings (2018–present)

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Refugees and migrants began entering the United Kingdom by crossing the English Channel in boats in November 2018. They arrived in small boats and while some slip into the Britain unnoticed, others are apprehended on British beaches, or rescued when the craft they are riding in founder off shore. The British government says criminal gangs arrange some of the crossings.

"Crisis"

Anti-immigration politicians attached the label "crisis" to the sudden increase in seaborne crossings.[1]

Journalist and former Scottish Labour Party MP Tom Harris argues that the small boat crossings that are occurring are not a "crisis."[2]

Former Home Secretary Sajid Javid preferred to describe the increase in crossings as a "major incident."[3][4]

Background

Seaborne crossings aboard small boats by would-be refugees and migrants were rare before November 2018.[1][5] More commonly, refugees and migrants stowed away aboard trains, trucks or ferryboats, a technique that has become more difficult in recent years as British authorities have intensified searches of such vehicles.[1][6] Prices charged by smugglers for illegal rides across the Channel in lorries, trains and ferries have risen sharply.[6] Rumours that entering and claiming asylum in the UK will become more difficult once Brexit goes into effect circulated in migrant encampments in France, possibly fomented by people smugglers hoping to drum up business.[7][1][6]

Although migrants arrive in England through illegal means, upon arrival the UK Government is unlikely to reject their claims to asylum. In 2019 at least 1,890 migrants arrived from France via small boats, the Home Office reported that only around 125 were returned to other European countries.[8]

Refugees and migrants

Numbers

2018

539 refugees and migrants are documented to have "tried to reach Britain on small boats" in 2018; many, however, were intercepted and returned to France.[9] 434 migrants are known to have made the crossing in small boats in October, November and December of 2018,[10] 100 in November of 2018,[7] 230 in December.[10][11]

Following the surge in migrant crossing incidents in November and December, on 28 December 2018 the UK Home secretary declared a major incident regarding refugees attempting to cross the channel.[4]

227 refugees and migrants were intercepted and returned to the continent by French authorities in 2018, "at least" 95 refugees and migrants in December alone.[3][10]

By way of comparison, 26,547 asylum claims were filed by would be refugees in the UK in 2017.[10]

2019

During the course of 2019, almost 1,900 had made the crossing by the end of the year.[12] From July to December 2019, an average of approximately 200 'migrants' made the crossing per month.[13]

2020

In April 2020, boat arrivals for that month was over 400 - the highest monthly total ever recorded.[13]

In July, the number of people crossing almost matched the combined total of May and June, with more migrants encouraged by good weather and calm seas.[14]

In August, it was reported that in 2020 so far almost 4,000 people had crossed the Channel illegally, using at least 300 small boats. On 6 August a record number of migrants arrived, at least 235.[15] It has also been observed that while it was originally mostly men that were arriving, young children and pregnant women and babies are now often among those arriving.[16]

The total number of migrants recorded to have crossed into the UK so far in 2020 was 3,948 as of 7 August.[17]

According to analysis by PA Media, the number of migrants reaching the UK shore has gone beyond 4,100 people in 2020. The Home Office confirmed that 151 migrants came ashore on 8 August. French authorities claimed that in the first six months of 2020, the number of migrants crossing the English Channel increased by five times, as compared to the last year.[18]

On 19 August a Sudanese boy, Abdulfatah Hamdallah, drowned in the Channel making the journey from France. He died after his and his friend's inflatable dinghy, which they were powering using shovels as oars, capsized. While his companion and British news media claimed he was 16 years old,[19][20] Boulogne-Sur-Mer's deputy public prosecutor Philippe Sabatier said a travel document provided by Mr Hamdallah gave his age as 28. The pair had previously been living in the Calais Jungle for at least two months prior.[21]

By 20 October, the total number of crossings in 2020 reached 7,294.[22]

Countries of origin

The refugees making the small boat crossings are coming disproportionately from Iran.[6][23][24]

Criminal smuggling gangs

Crossings are usually arranged by smugglers who charge between £3,000 and £6,000 for a crossing attempt in a small boat.[7][23] The smugglers often use stolen boats for the crossings.[23][25][26][27]

On 2 January 2019 the National Crime Agency announced the arrest of a 33-year-old Iranian and a 24-year-old Briton in Manchester on suspicion of arranging the "illegal movement of migrants" across the English Channel.[28]

Responses

Government response

Home Secretary Sajid Javid cut short a family holiday to deal with the small boat crossings.[3][4][29] On 31 December Javid reversed a previous refusal to station additional Border Force cutters in the Channel to intercept migrant smallcraft on the grounds that the cutters would become a "magnet" for migrants to attempt the crossing in the hope that their boats would be intercepted and enabled to apply for asylum. In agreeing to send more patrol boats, Javid promised to do "everything we can" to make sure that small boat migration "is not a success", including returning would-be migrants to France.[29] Cutters are en route from Gibraltar and the Mediterranean to carry out the channel mission.[29]

Javid has stated that migrants crossing the Channel from France are not "genuine" asylum seekers, since they are already residing in a safe country.[30]

In response to the increase in arrivals due to calm seas in July and August 2020,[14] Javid's successor as Home Secretary, Priti Patel, was reportedly "furious" and responded by saying she planned to make the English Channel an "unviable" route into the UK. She has sought military assistance from the Royal Navy to prevent migrant vessels from leaving France.[16][31]

On 10 August Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a statement:

There's no doubt that it would be helpful if we could work with our French friends to stop them getting over the Channel. Be in no doubt, what's going on is the activity of cruel and criminal gangs who are risking the lives of these people taking them across the Channel, a pretty dangerous stretch of water, in potentially unseaworthy vessels. We want to stop that, working with the French, make sure that they understand that this isn't a good idea, this is a very bad and stupid and dangerous and criminal thing to do. But then there's a second thing we've got to do, and that is to look at the legal framework that we have that means that when people do get here, it is very, very difficult to then send them away again, even though blatantly they've come here illegally.[32][33]

On 7 September 2020, the UK government deployed sophisticated military unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to patrol the English Channel, ending a surge in crossings committed by illegal migrants to reach its shores. The drones will relay information to both, French and British border authorities, who can then intercept the crossings.[34]

British public

According to a poll conducted by YouGov, 73% of Britons considered the crossings to be a serious issue. Conservative voters were most concerned about the recent trend in illegal entry with 97%, whereas Labour voters were least concerned, with 49%.[35]

International responses

After Abdulfatah Hamdallah drowned and washed up on French shores near Calais, French National Assembly member Pierre-Henri Dumont blamed the UK government for the death because of their refusal to accept asylum claims from outside the country. He also stated that migrants in Calais "do not want to seek asylum in France" and "refuse state support", preferring to "risk their lives" in rafts.[36]

Other responses

In late 2019, it was report that Members of the far-right group Britain First were patrolling beaches to "catch migrants crossing".[37]

For Britain leader Anne Marie Waters suggested during a protest outside a hotel housing asylum seekers that the government's priority should be to house some of the 13,000 homeless British war veterans instead of people entering the country illegally.[38]

Ice cream manufacturers Ben & Jerry's took to Twitter to criticise the Home Office's approach to the crossings, tweeting:

Hey @PritiPatel we think the real crisis is our lack of humanity for people fleeing war, climate change and torture. We pulled together a thread for you.. People wouldn't make dangerous journeys if that had any other choice. The UK hasn't resettled any refugees since March, but wars and violence continue. What we need is more safe and legal routes[39]

Foreign Office minister James Cleverly responded by tweeting:

Can I have a large scoop of statistically inaccurate virtue signaling with my grossly overpriced ice cream, please?[40]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d Pérez-Peña, Pérez-Peña (31 December 2018). "As Migrants Cross English Channel, Numbers Are Small but Worry Is Big". The New York Times. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  2. ^ Harris, Tom (1 January 2019). "Why should Britain offer asylum to people who would rather not make their home in France?". The Telegraph. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  3. ^ a b c "Channel migrants: Minister defends handling of 'crisis'". BBC News. 29 December 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  4. ^ a b c "Channel migrants: Home secretary declares major incident". BBC News. 28 December 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  5. ^ Bell, Melissa; Vandoorne, Saskya (6 December 2018). "Migrants risk death at sea to reach Britain as prices spike on traditional routes". CNN. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  6. ^ a b c d Picheta, Rob (2 January 2019). "'Deeply concerning': Why the rise in migrants crossing the English Channel?". CNN. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  7. ^ a b c Campbell, Colin (27 November 2018). "Migrants 'rush to cross Channel by boat before Brexit'". BBC News. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  8. ^ McLennan, William (January 20, 2020). "Are migrants who cross the Channel sent back?" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  9. ^ "Migrants Attempt Dangerous Trip Across the Channel". CNN. 2 January 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  10. ^ a b c d Heffer, Greg (2 January 2019). "Channel migrants: What are the numbers behind the 'major incident'?". Sky News. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  11. ^ Topping, Alexandra (30 December 2018). "UK migrant 'crisis' bears no comparison to EU's 2015 influx". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  12. ^ Campbell, Colin (20 January 2020) English Channel migrants boats using 'surge tactics', www.bbc.co.uk, accessed 21 October 2020
  13. ^ a b McLennan, William (20 August 2020) Channel crossings: Why can't the UK stop migrants in small boats? www.bbc.co.uk, accessed 21 October 2020
  14. ^ a b "MPs launch inquiry into increase in Channel migrant crossings". BBC News. 7 August 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  15. ^ Casciani, Dominic (7 August 2020). "Why are migrants crossing the English Channel?". BBC News. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  16. ^ a b Brown, Faye (6 August 2020). "Heavily pregnant woman among 235 migrants intercepted in English Channel". Metro. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  17. ^ "Channel migrants: 235 people in 17 vessels stopped in one day". BBC News. 7 August 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  18. ^ Grierson, Jamie; Willsher, Kim (9 August 2020). "More than 4,000 have crossed Channel to UK in small boats this year". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  19. ^ Braddick, Imogen (19 August 2020). "Sudanese migrant, 16, found washed up on French beach 'after boat capsizes' while crossing Channel". Evening Standard. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  20. ^ Grierson, Jamie; Willsher, Kim; Taylor, Diane (19 August 2020). "Teenager found dead tried to cross Channel in dinghy with shovels for oars". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  21. ^ Dearden, Lizzie (20 August 2020). "Channel crossings: Sudanese migrant who drowned trying to reach UK named as Abdulfatah Hamdallah". The Independent. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  22. ^ Young child among migrants crossing the English Channel 20 October 2020, www.bbc.co.uk, accessed 21 October 2020
  23. ^ a b c Henley, John (31 December 2018). "'This is the only way now': desperate Iranians attempt Channel crossing". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  24. ^ "Channel migrants: Why are people crossing the English Channel?". BBC. 2 January 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  25. ^ "French police nab 14 migrants at Channel port harbour". France24. 1 January 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  26. ^ "Migrants reach UK in stolen French fishing boat". Al Jazeera. 13 November 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  27. ^ Googan, Cara (16 November 2018). "Migrants pile into dinghies to cross Channel to Dover as 'panic setting in' before Brexit deadline hits". The Telegraph. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  28. ^ "Two held over English Channel migrant crossings". BBC News. 3 January 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  29. ^ a b c Johnson, Jamie; Hymas, Charles (31 December 2018). "Sajid Javid backs down over migrants as two more boats redeployed to the Channel". The Telegraph. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  30. ^ Swinford, Steven (2 January 2019). "Migrants crossing English Channel are not 'genuine' asylum seekers, Sajid Javid suggests". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  31. ^ Johnston, John (9 August 2020). "Priti Patel calls for military help to stop migrants crossing English Channel". PoliticsHome. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  32. ^ Grierson, Jamie; Sabbagh, Dan (10 August 2020). "Boris Johnson accused of scapegoating migrants over Channel comments". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  33. ^ Dearden, Lizzie (10 August 2020). "Channel Crossings: Boris Johnson calls for legal change to 'send away' more asylum seekers amid surge in migrant boats". The Independent. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  34. ^ "The UK is using a military drone to monitor and stop migrants from crossing the English Channel, after a record 1,400 crossed in August". Business Insider. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  35. ^ "Do Brits support using the military to patrol the English Channel? | YouGov". yougov.co.uk.
  36. ^ Drewett, Zoe (20 August 2020). "UK blamed for death of Sudanese boy, 16, who tried to cross Channel". Metro. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  37. ^ Mahmood, Basit (19 September 2019). "Far right Britain First patrolling beaches to 'catch migrants'". Metro. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  38. ^ Holmes, David (August 20, 2020). "Protest outside hotel housing asylum seekers sparks condemnation". CheshireLive.
  39. ^ McGonagle, Emmet (12 August 2020). "Ben & Jerry's hits out at Priti Patel over migrant crossings". Campaign. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  40. ^ "Ben & Jerry's clashes with UK home secretary over migrants". Financial Times. 12 August 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
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