Nearly 30,000 migrants reached the English coast illegally in 2023 by crossing the Channel on makeshift boats, a figure down sharply compared to 2022, which had been a record year.
These figures are closely followed in the United Kingdom, where successive Conservative governments have promised to “take back control of the borders” after Brexit. Immigration is shaping up to be a key issue in the campaign for the legislative elections which should take place in 2024. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has also promised to stop crossings of the Channel by illegal migrants.
Second highest toll
In 2023, 29,437 migrants made the crossing, compared to 45,774 in 2022, according to figures from the British Home Office. The 2023 toll, however, remains the second highest ever recorded, higher than that of 2021 (28,526).
Around 20% of migrants who arrived on the English coast in 2023 came from Afghanistan, according to data from the British Home Office up to November 29. Next come Iranians, who account for around 12% of crossings, then Turks (11%), Eritreans (9%) and Iraqis (9%).
On the other hand, the number of Albanians, who were among the most numerous to make the crossing in 2022 (12,658), fell by more than 90%. London and Tirana have reached an agreement to prevent Albanians from leaving illegally for the United Kingdom.
France – United Kingdom agreement
The British government has several times welcomed the success of this agreement, as well as that concluded with France. In March, Rishi Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron reached an agreement providing for London to contribute more than 500 million euros over three years to strengthen surveillance on French beaches and fight against smuggling gangs.
The British conservative government, which has adopted extremely restrictive asylum laws, still plans to deport migrants who arrived illegally in the United Kingdom to Rwanda.
The project was blocked by the Supreme Court, but London reached a new agreement with Kigali. The new bill “is the toughest legislation ever presented to Parliament on immigration,” Rishi Sunak told MPs in December.