GB News Home and Security Editor Mark White has reported that four additional migrant vessels are currently making their way towards British waters, as the number of Channel crossings surpasses 1,300 individuals since the implementation of the UK-France returns agreement.
He confirmed that approximately 250 people had arrived earlier in the morning, with one vessel already transferring its passengers from a French warship to the Border Force ship Ranger.
Three more boats continue their journey despite deteriorating weather conditions, with the Channel experiencing significant swells.
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White told GB News: "I’d say around 50 have gone back, and that’s a tiny proportion of those who have come over.
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|Mark White has reported that four additional migrant vessels are currently making their way towards British waters
"Since reporting earlier that about 250 arrived this morning, there are now another four small boats in the English Channel heading for UK waters.
"One has just made it, it’s in the process of handing over from a French warship to the Border Force vessel Ranger.
"We don’t yet know how many people are on board that vessel, which will transfer to Ranger, but there are another three boats behind it, all trying to get across.
"The weather has now closed in, which is remarkable given that conditions in the Channel are seeing heavy swells. But still, these boats push on, knowing that if they make it, they will be picked up and taken to the Kent coast.
"At the moment, we’re at 1,300 who’ve crossed since that landmark deal was signed with France and became operational last Wednesday.
"By the end of today, it looks like it will be more than 1,300 possibly 1,400 or even 1,500 since the treaty came into effect.
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"That gives you a clear indication of what the people smugglers think of the treaty: they clearly believe there is little, if any, chance of the migrants they send over being returned to France.
"They are so confident, in fact, that they are now telling migrants who might be a little concerned about being sent backnot to worry, because there’s no chance at all.
"And if it does happen, they promise a free journey back to France or even back to the UK."
Saturday saw 435 individuals complete the journey across the Channel in seven inflatable dinghies, according to confirmed Home Office statistics.
GETTY | Small migrant boats are regularly making their way across the English Chanel from France to the UK
The weekend total reached 716 arrivals from French shores.
These latest figures bring the cumulative number of crossings since the returns agreement became operational last Wednesday to 1,119 people.
The 2025 total now stands at 26,556 individuals who have made the unauthorised Channel crossing, representing an increase of nearly 9,000 compared to the 17,638 recorded during the corresponding period in 2024.
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