Migrant waves in celebration as he arrives in UK after two more packed boats are caught trying to cross English Channel – bringing this year’s arrivals total to 2,127
- Two vessels are reported to have been rescued by the British authorities today
- Migrants have been taken into the Port of Dover, where they will be questioned
- This latest incident means 2,127 migrants have crossed the Channel this year
Border Force officers have picked up two migrant boats off the Kent coast – on the day President Emmanuel Macron of France visited London for talks with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
It comes a day after 42 reached Britain in four boats – meaning 2,127 migrants have crossed the Channel this year.
Two vessels are reported to have been rescued by British authorities today, while a further two were taken back to France.
The migrants – one of whom waved as he arrived – have been taken into the Port of Dover, where they will be questioned by immigration officials.
Border Force officers have picked up two migrant boats off the Kent coast today. One of the men waved as he arrived (pictured)
Two vessels are reported to have been rescued by British authorities today, while a further two were taken back to France
The migrants have been taken into the Port of Dover, where they will be questioned by immigration officials. Pictured: police help the new arrivals off the boat in Kent
It is thought up to 30 migrants have been intercepted – although official figures have not yet been released.
On Wednesday, 42 refugees from Afghanistan, Kuwait, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Syria and Turkey were rescued.
In the first incident at 4.50am, officers intercepted two males on one vessel.
At 5.35am, 14 males on one boat were rescued.
It is thought up to 30 migrants have been intercepted – although official figures have not yet been released
A group of people thought to be migrants are brought into Dover, Kent, following a number of small boat incidents in the Channel earlier this morning
It comes a day after 42 reached Britain in four boats – meaning 2,127 migrants have crossed the Channel this year
Border Force officers rescued another vessel carrying 14 males and four females after it was spotted at 6.12am.
In the final crossing, a boat carrying seven males and a female was spotted at 12.11pm and was intercepted by a lifeboat off Ramsgate, Kent.
Chris Philp, the Minister for Immigration Compliance and the Courts, said: ‘We continue to work with the French authorities to tackle these illegal crossings and bring the ruthless criminals who facilitate them to justice.
‘This year we have put 21 people smugglers behind bars, with two jailed only last week. This builds on 2019, where we had 203 convictions for a total of 437 years.
‘French authorities stopped more than 1,000 migrants from crossing the Channel across the months of April and May and have stopped more today.
‘But there is much more to do, and we are committed to going further and stopping these boats.’