LONDON (UK) – Immigration compliance minister Chris Philp wrote in a newspaper that the country is facing an “unacceptable” spurt in the number of boats carrying migrants across the English Channel. He said action would be taken to send “illegal” entrants back to France.
The minister said he was visiting Paris next week to raise concerns over the issue of illegal entrants. He wrote in the Telegraph that the UK would urge France to stop migrants from getting into boats to cross the Channel and would also “return those who make it to our shores”.
Given the spike in the number of migrants trying to cross the English Channel, ministers have demanded tougher action from the French government.
“The French must ensure that migrants who are caught attempting to reach the UK by boat cannot do so again,” Philp wrote in the article.
On the other hand, France said the pleasant weather facilitated the illegal crossings. An interior ministry spokesperson said surveillance teams have been deployed along its northern coast and migrants are intercepted daily.
According to the Times, British ministers are considering intercepting migrants in the Channel before reaching the UK waters. This tactic has been employed by Australia.
According to a BBC report, as many as 4,000 people have crossed the English Channel this year in more than 300 small boats.
On the other hand, France says five times as many boats carrying migrants were caught between January and July compared with the same period last year. The Channel is only 23 miles wide at its narrowest point between Dover and Calais.
Most migrants hail from countries such as Yemen, Egypt, Sudan and Iraq.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field