Migrant crisis: More than SIX THOUSAND have crossed Channel in 2024 after biggest day of arrivals so far

This is 28 per cent higher than the total at the equivalent point last year, which was 4,899.

It comes as the Government prepares to bring its Rwanda Bill back to the Commons today in an effort to get deportation flights off to the East African nation.

Sources have told GB News that “thousands of migrants have been waiting in northern France for the weather to improve so they could make the crossing”.

High winds and waves had prevented crossings since last Monday, when 82 migrants arrived in the UK.

As winds eased on Saturday, 214 people managed to reach British waters in 5 small boats, before being picked up by Border Force vessels and taken to Dover harbour.

Flat calm conditions saw another 10 small boats make the illegal crossing yesterday, carrying more than 500 mainly young men, but with a small number of women and children as well.

Last year, the Prime Minister was able to claim that his “stop the boats” policy was the main driver behind a fall of a third in the number of migrants crossing the Channel.

But already this year, the total is well ahead of the numbers crossing at this point in 2023.

The Government believes its Rwanda bill, which is expected to become law later this week, will act as a key deterrent to those planning to use people smugglers in northern France.

Ministers hope it will “break the business model” of the criminal gangs who are making many millions in profit from their illegal trade in human cargo.

Officials are preparing for the first flights to leave the UK for Rwanda within weeks.

But the likelihood is that the new law will face a fresh wave of legal challenges, which could add more delays to the plan.