Maybe France will now understand! People smugglers sneak migrants across Channel into EU via UK
22 French-speaking migrants tried to pass through the border by hiding in a lorry
PA
People smugglers are using the UK as an illicit “back door” to sneak migrants into France and other EU countries.
Immigrants from Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia were caught by French border police in Dover, trying to leave Britain to get to France.
The 22 French-speaking migrants tried to pass through the border by hiding in a lorry, the Telegraph has revealed.
They were carrying UK visitor visas, so they could enter as tourists but then try and make a break for France.
Border force officials in the UK are finding the situation tricky
PA
The “back door” option through the UK is believed to be a safer choice than a risky journey on boat across the Mediterranean.
The situation is proving difficult for UK border force officials. who don’t know how to deal with the migrants attempting to cross the channel.
“They are getting visitor visas to come to the UK as tourists, but in reality, they don’t want to come here, they want to live in France,” said the border force source.
“They are trying to smuggle themselves out of the UK, but they are getting caught by the French in Dover and handed back to us.
"We then have to figure out what to do because they have valid leave to enter the UK. There is a possibility they are illegal entrants because they came here under false pretences. Last week’s incident was the first time this has happened.”
In the most recent tax year ending in March, the Home Office gave out more than 40,000 visas to Moroccans or Algerians.
The Government Department has confirmed 18,618 migrants have arrived in the UK so far in 2023 after crossing the channel on this new route.
On Monday, over 660 people travelled in 15 different boats to the UK.
This was the third-highest daily total for the year.
Earlier this month, it was revealed that people smugglers are earning double the money they previously made because of this new route.
The smugglers bring immigrants into the UK and then help them cross the channel, charging them twice, the Telegraph has reported.
The service is being advertised by the Albanians as for “people who have problems and want to leave England as soon as possible”.
An undercover reporter who was posing as a migrant who was on the run, that he could escape to Europe that night for £3,000.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent
PA
Last week 1,278 people made the journey via the new route.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “Abuse of our immigration system will not be tolerated and we have robust measures in place to ensure compliance.
“We are committed to an immigration policy which welcomes those in genuine need but deters illegal immigration, prevents the abuse of public funds and removes foreign criminals from the UK.
“Many EU countries have begun to strengthen their international borders, amid fears that the lack of restrictions on movement in the Schengen zone, the world’s largest visa-free zone, is making it too straightforward to freely travel across Europe.”
Italy’s number of illegal migrants has reached 105,000 doubling from 50,000 last year.