LONDON: In the first three months of 2024, over 4,600 asylum seekers have entered Britain on small boats, setting a record and posing a new political challenge for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
As of March 26 of this year, 4,644 persons had been identified as crossing across the Channel in small boats, such as inflatable dinghies, according to preliminary statistics released by the Home Office, or interior ministry, on Wednesday.
This is in contrast to the previous record high of 4,162 for 2022 and 3,770 for the same period the previous year.
With his centerpiece plan to deport those landing in Britain without authorization to Rwanda, Sunak hopes to discourage people from taking the risky route over the Channel. The plan’s enabling legislation, which has been delayed by a number of court challenges, is scheduled to return to parliament next month.
A Home Office spokesman stated last week, “The unacceptable number of people who continue to cross the Channel demonstrates exactly why we must get flights to Rwanda off the ground as soon as possible.”
“We remain in close collaboration with the French police, who are dealing with a rise in violence and disturbance on their shores as they diligently strive to stop these risky, unlawful, and needless expeditions.”
