Dozens of migrants arrive in UK after trying to make dangerous journey English Channel in the early hours of Christmas Day.
A total of 67 people, including women and children, were taken by UK authorities shortly before 1.30am in Dover, Kent, following an incident with two small boats at sea.
French officials also intercepted a third boat, although it is not known how many people the ship was carrying.
Minister of Justice and Combating Illegal Migration, Tom Pursglow said that people should not try to cross the Channel, and instead should claim asylum in a previously safe country.
He said the government is improving its attitude towards people making dangerous crossings through the Nationality and Boundary Bill.
“People have been pleading for reform for two decades and this government is doing the same thing through our new immigration scheme,” he said.
The Nationality and Borders Bill would make it a criminal offense to knowingly enter the UK illegally, and provide for life imprisonment for those facilitating illegal entry into the country.
A child was one of a group of migrants rescued in the Channel and brought to Dover around 11.30am on Christmas Eve.
The Border Force officers were assisted by the Maritime and Coast Guard agency after they were called for an incident in the Channel before 8.20 a.m. on Christmas Eve.
‘It will also strengthen the Border Force’s powers to intercept and redirect ships, while introducing new powers to deport asylum seekers to process their claims outside Britain.
‘MPs have already voted to reform this broken and abusive system, and the sooner the House of Lords approves the Boundary Bill, the sooner these reforms can be implemented.’
In a series of photographs UK agencies are bringing in a group of people shortly before 1.30 pm on Christmas Day.
They were wrapped in white blankets and wearing blue surgical masks.
This came when another group of 35 people were brought to safety by the Border Force, also in Dover, at around 11.30am on Christmas Eve, rescued by a small canoe.
The Archbishop of Canterbury used them Christmas Sermon today to deliver a message of support to volunteers helping refugees.
The Most Rev Justin Welby speaks at the Christmas Day Eucharist at Canterbury Cathedral at 11am.
He said the Christmas story of Joseph and Mary in search of shelter reflects the need to treat those who ‘risk everything just to get to the beach’.
The Border Force intercepted several boats carrying migrants overnight while trying to cross the Channel.
A young girl was among the dozens of people who arrived in Dover, Kent, around midnight.
A second child was also one of 35 people aboard a canoe aided by the Border Force between Dunkirk and Calais Ghats, shortly before 12 noon.
A record-breaking number of migrants have crossed the channel this year, including over a hundred in the past week.
All those rescued overnight were medically evaluated and the adults were transferred to immigration officials to be interviewed.
Officials said the children would come under the care of social services.
In another incident in French waters, nine migrants were rescued and are now in the UK after the engine of the ship they were traveling in failed.
They have been shifted to Coastguard for evaluation.
Along with the Maritime and Coast Guard Agency, Border Force officers were called to an incident in the channel before 8.20 a.m. on Christmas Eve.
‘MPs have already voted to reform this broken and abusive system, and the sooner the House of Lords approves the Boundary Bill, the sooner these reforms can be implemented.’
The latest rescue came after the total number of channel crossings reached 28,020 – more than triple the 8,500 crossings in 2020, according to Home Office data.
On Wednesday, at least 100 migrants, including children wrapped in blankets and snow boots, were stopped while attempting to cross the Channel despite falling below freezing overnight.
The small boat crossing was briefly halted in recent weeks due to strong winds and high tide, but has resumed due to calm waters in the channel.
A total of 27 people, including seven women and a seven-year-old girl, are believed to have died when their boat sank during a crossing.
Wednesday’s crossing broke the 2021 record for 28,020, according to Home Office data – more than three times the 8,500 traveled in 2020
A small canoe was also brought to Dover after a group of migrants were rescued by the Border Force and the Maritime and Coast Guard Agency.
At least 100 migrants, including a child wrapped in blankets and snow boots (pictured), were stopped on Wednesday morning while temperatures dipped below freezing overnight.
Clandestine Channel Threat Commander Dan O’Mahony said: ‘The tragedy of last month is a devastating reminder of the dangers of Channel crossings and we are determined to work with our European and international partners to target the brutal organized criminal gangs behind them. Huh.
‘Incredibly, these gangs continue their deadly trade with more crossings today, shamelessly risking lives.
‘People planning to travel should first claim asylum in a safer country than risk their lives by crossing the Channel from a safe EU country.
“The new immigration scheme of the government will ensure that those coming here through illegal routes and will be fair to those who use safe and legal routes. This will reduce the strain on the existing asylum and immigration system.
Last month, Priti Patel vowed to stop ‘100 per cent’ of migrant crossings after online crisis talks with her French counterparts.
A joint statement issued by the Home Office also said they also discussed the growing migrant crisis in Eastern Europe, with Britain accusing Belarus and Russia of engineering to undermine European unity.
Miss Patel and Mr Darmain said: ‘Tonight, the Home Secretary spoke to his French counterpart Gerald Darmainin to discuss the problem of small boats crossing the Channel and the operational response to it.
Both the Home Secretary and the Interior Minister agreed to further strengthen operational cooperation. More efforts should be made to prevent dangerous crossings. They agreed to expedite the delivery of the commitments made in the July 2021 Joint Agreement to fulfill their joint determination to prevent 100 percent crossings and to make this deadly route unfeasible.
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