Migrant crisis: More than 1,150 migrants cross Channel while Britain returns just 3 to France

Mark White delivers verdict as 800 cross The Channel |

GB NEWS

Mark White

By Mark WhiteOliver Trapnell


Published: 19/09/2025

- 22:14

Updated: 20/09/2025

- 10:10

Border Force is on alert for the possibility of more crossings overnight

More than 1,150 small boat migrants have arrived since yesterday morning.

GB News can reveal that more than 32,182 migrants have crossed the Channel so far this year.


That compares to 24,335 who crossed at the same point last year.

Official Home Office figures reveal that 1,072 migrants arrived illegally on 13 small boats on Friday.

GB News can reveal that another 83 arrived into Dover at 6am on Saturday.

Since yesterday morning, 1,155 migrants have now arrived across the Channel.

Weather conditions are due to close in again this afternoon, with no crossings expected for the next few days.

However, Border Force and lifeboats from Ramsgate and Dover responded to back-to-back sightings of migrant boats yesterday.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
People thought to be migrants successfully launch a small boat from a riverbank in Gravelines, France

Migrants seen boarding small boats in northern France this evening

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PA

UK maritime authorities were kept on alert for more crossings last night.

The latest figures come after the Home Office confirmed a third asylum seeker has been removed from the UK under the “one-in, one-out” returns deal with France aimed at stopping small boats crossing the Channel.

Home Office sources said the man, an Iranian, had been returned to France on Friday.

The removal of the Iranian national comes after the removal of an Indian man on Thursday and an Eritrean man earlier on Friday after he lost a High Court bid to halt his removal.

Although the Home Office source would not comment on exact numbers, they said the removals were expected to be “at or close to parity”, given the “one in, one out” nature of the deal.

Migrants waiting to cross the Channel

Migrants waited on the coast of northern France this morning

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PA

During his unprecedented second State Visit to the UK, US President Donald Trump suggested Sir Keir Starmer should involve the military in tackling the small boats crisis, warning illegal migration could “destroy” countries.

Mr Trump highlighted his record in securing the borders in the US and suggested the UK faced a similar challenge.

The US President said: “What I saw happening, with millions of people pouring into our country, I couldn’t stand to watch it, and we’ve done a great job.”

“The last three months we had zero – from millions of people a year ago, we had zero people enter our country illegally.”

“I think your situation is very similar. You have people coming in and I told the Prime Minister I would stop it, and it doesn’t matter if you call out the military, it doesn’t matter what means you use.

Donald Trump and Keir Starmer

During his second State Visit, Donald Trump suggested Sir Keir Starmer should involve the military in tackling the small boats crisis

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PA

“It destroys countries from within and we’re actually now removing a lot of the people that came into our country.”

Speaking yesterday, Business Secretary Peter Kyle said the Navy can be called upon “if needed” to tackle illegal migration.

He continued: “Well, what he suggested was the military are used, but we have the UK Border Force that is now established and has been reinforced and bolstered and have new powers under this Government.

“The Navy actually does have a working relationship with the UK Border Force, and the Navy can be called upon if needed.

“So we do have the functional relationship that we need between our military and keeping our borders safe and secure but what we really need at the moment is our military focused on all of those really key issues around the world, directly relating to our national defence.”

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