More than 10,000 migrants have been found crossing the English Channel in small boats since the start of the year, according to figures released on Sunday by Britain’s Home Office, which is relentlessly cracking down on these illegal crossings.

Seven boats with 374 people on board reached British shores on Saturday alone, according to daily government figures, bringing the total number of migrants who have arrived by the perilous route since the start of the year to 10,139.

However, this figure remains lower than in the same period last year. But after weeks of poor weather, crossings have increased in recent days as the weather improved, with more than 2,500 people arriving on British shores between June 10 and 17.

More than 45,000 such intersections were registered for the entire year 2022, which became a record.

Fighting illegal immigration is one of the priorities of the conservative majority in power, which has so far failed to deter illegal migrants despite tightening policies.

Last year, the government passed legislation, currently blocked by the judiciary, to send asylum seekers to Rwanda. And the new draft law, criticized even by the UN, provides for a ban on migrants arriving through the English Channel to ask for asylum.

London has also signed several agreements with other countries, such as France and Albania, to better deal with illegal immigration. (Agerpress)