Over 23,000 migrants have illegally crossed the English Channel so far this year, according to the latest unofficial tally of landings on the Kent coast.
The latest surge—over 320 crossings on Thursday, July 17th—brought the total to a politically charged milestone, now 55% higher than at the same point last year.
Although the Home Office usually issues a ‘Red Day’ warning when good weather encourages crossings, the latest arrivals on Friday, July 18th, happened in heavy Channel fog.
So far, over 46,000 migrants have crossed illegally since Labour leader Keir Starmer became Prime Minister. The strain of housing new arrivals—and reports of crimes linked to some migrants—is fuelling local tensions, most recently in Epping, Essex. Public frustration has grown further after footage emerged showing French police giving water and life jackets to migrants as they waited for boats to take them to England.
Despite recent agreements with France and Germany, people-smuggling operations in the Channel show no signs of slowing down.
