Yesterday, British authorities counted the largest number of refugees crossing the English Channel to date. 872 people reached the coast on Saturday in small boats.

More migrants crossed the English Channel into Britain in small boats yesterday than ever before this year. As the British news agency PA reported, citing government data, a total of 872 people arrived irregularly on the coast on Saturday. The previous daily record was 756 arrivals on August 10.

Fewer refugees than in period of the previous year

In August, 5,369 migrants arrived, more than ever in a month since records began in 2018. In total, almost 21,000 people arrived in Britain this year along this dangerous route. That’s down from the same time last year.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak recently saw this as proof of the effectiveness of stricter immigration laws: Falling immigration numbers showed that his plan to deter migrants with strict laws was working. Experts, however, point out that the weather in the English Channel was worse this year and therefore fewer people risked the dangerous crossing from France.

Drastic laws will not make a difference

A major argument in favor of Brexit was that Britain could then more closely control who enters the country. Since then, irregular migration has increased significantly. The Conservative British government now depends on deterrence. Sunak had announced that he would “stop the boats”. Anyone who enters Britain “illegally” should be detained and deported as soon as possible, regardless of the circumstances and without any chance of receiving asylum in Britain.

Critics talk about a ban on asylum. The head of Amnesty International’s UK branch, Sacha Deshmukh, recently said of the continued high numbers: “This is another reminder that the government’s failed immigration policies are failing to stop people making dangerous journeys to seek asylum.” .