The government is eager to address the small boat crisis, with the initial deportations of migrants to France set to commence this week.
Under a deal brokered by Keir Starmer with French President Emmanuel Macron in July, asylum seekers who arrived via small boats will be returned to France starting as early as Monday. The first group of migrants was apprehended on August 6 under the new arrangement, where the UK will repatriate individuals to France in exchange for those approved to enter the UK.
Over 30,000 individuals have made the dangerous journey across the Channel to Britain this year, reaching a record high since data collection began in 2018. The recent focus on housing asylum seekers in hotels has also fueled tensions.
In response to inquiries about the imminent start of return flights, Peter Kyle expressed the government’s determination to tackle the migration crisis inherited from the previous administration. Cooperation with France, rather than confrontation, has been emphasized as essential for effective solutions.
A Home Office spokesperson confirmed that under the new UK-France treaty, individuals crossing in small boats can now be detained and sent back to France swiftly. Upholding border security remains a top priority, with a commitment to taking all necessary measures to regain control and safeguard the borders.