Migrant crisis as 16,000 arrive in UK in 2024 after 80 rescued in Channel
On Sunday, it was confirmed that one migrant died while trying to make the dangerous journey across the English Channel.
The migrant crisis remains a huge problem for the UK as 16,000 asylum seekers have made the dangerous journey across the English Channel this year.
Authorities have rescued 80 people from drowning after they made the journey on overcrowded small boats.
The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon near St Margaret's Bay, east of Dover, GB News reports.
The migrants' makeshift vessel started to deflate as they were escorted to UK waters by a French border boat.
Typhoon, a British vessel, took the migrants to safety at Dover harbour.
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The arrivals took this year's tally of migrants crossing the Channel in 2024 to 16,200.
This is 8 percent higher than those who had made their way to the UK on small boats at this point in 2023.
The new Labour Government will be under pressure to deal with the problem. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has ditched the previous government's Rwanda policy as he looks to take a new approach to deal with irregular migration.
Last week, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced raids on nail bars and car washes and deported a plane load of illegal immigrants.
A Home Office spokesperson said: "We all want to see an end to the dangerous small boat crossings, which are undermining border security and putting lives at risk.
"The new Government is taking steps to boost our border security, setting up a new Border Security Command which will bring together our intelligence and enforcement agencies, equipped with new counter-terror-style powers and hundreds of personnel stationed in the UK and overseas, to smash the criminal smuggling gangs making millions in profit."
On Sunday, it was confirmed that a person died while making a journey across the Channel on an overloaded boat.
French authorities say the boat was found off the coast of Calais at 04:30 BST.
One person was found "unconscious" and was taken to a hospital in Boulogne-sur-Mer before they sadly lost their life.
French officials said in a statement: "During the transfer, it was observed that one person on the migrant vessel was unconscious; the person was taken on board and given first aid immediately."
