Fifty suspected illegal migrants on three small boats were intercepted by UK Border Force while attempting to cross the English Channel on Sunday, UNN understands.
The Home Office confirmed a fourth boat was returned to France, and French authorities prevented a fifth crossing by a further 17 people in a dinghy.
Border Force has so far detained more the 650 people trying to make the illegal crossing on small boats so far during 2021 – Double the number attempting to cross in the same period of last year.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “People should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach and not risk their lives making these dangerous crossings. We are continuing to pursue the criminals behind these illegal crossings.
“The government is also returning illegal migrants who have no right to stay in the UK to safe countries.
“In January, new rules were introduced which make asylum claims inadmissible where people have travelled through safe countries to get to the UK through illegal routes.”
Editor-in-Chief | Carl D. Pearson has been involved in British politics and media from an early age, with the key knowledge of what it takes to run a news organisation for the 21st century. Mr Pearson, as Editor-in-chief, is responsible for supervising the daily tasks of publishing media and content to UNN’s website and various platforms.
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