A number of migrants, including children under the age of five and one child, arrived in Britain just before Christmas Day. This was as 150 others attempted to cross over the Channel that night.
A group of 35 people was seen in photos taken around 11.30pm Christmas Eve. The individuals had been pulled from small boats and rescued by Border Force personnel.
Overnight, there were also two rescues that brought the total number migrants entering the UK to 150.
The Home Office spokeswoman said that Border Force intercepted “a variety of boats containing migrants” trying to cross the Channel over night.
A little girl, aged just a few months, was one of 150 who arrived at Dover in Kent around midnight.
The second child was one of the 35 aboard a dinghy with Border Force assistance between Calais Ferries (Dunkirk) shortly before 12:01 AM.
This year’s Channel crossing has seen a record number of migrants, with more than 100 in the last week.
The Channel rescued a child and had it brought to Dover on Christmas Eve at around 11.30pm
After being alerted to an emergency on the Channel, before 8.20pm Christmas Eve, Border Force officers were called by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
Each of the participants in overnight rescues were subject to a medical evaluation. Adults have been interviewed by immigration officials.
According to officials, the social services will take care of the children.
Nine migrants, who were also in French waters were saved by rescuers and now live in Britain after their vessel’s engine failed.
The Coastguard has taken them to their assessment.
Border Force personnel were summoned to an incident at the Channel in front of 8.20 on Christmas Eve, along with the Coastguard Agency and Maritime.
The latest rescues come after the total number of Channel crossings rose to a record breaking 28,020 – more than three times the 8,500 who made the crossing in 2020, according to Home Office figures.
On Wednesday, at least 100 migrants, including children wrapped in blankets and snow boots, were intercepted attempting to cross the Channel despite temperatures plunging below freezing overnight.
Yesterday night, the Home Office spokesperson said that Border Force intercepted many boats with migrants trying to cross Channel overnight and today and had deployed resources in order to handle these instances.
“The evidence suggests that there are organised criminal gang activities behind illegal migration efforts by small boats across Channel.
“We work closely with French law enforcement partners and the French to identify these gangs that exploit vulnerable persons and place lives at risk.
The record-breaking 28,020 crossings on Wednesday brought the total number of 2021 crossings to 38,020. This is more than triple the 8500 journeys made in 2020 according to the Home Office.
A small dinghy was also brought in to Dover after a group of migrants were rescued by Border Force and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency
In spite of temperatures dropping below freezing overnight, at least 100 migrants including one child were captured on Wednesday morning.
Smaller boat crossings were briefly halted in recent weeks by high winds and strong waves, but they have now been reopened due to calmer water in the Channel.
There are 27 victims, seven of them women, and one girl aged seven years old, who died after their boat capsized during an attempt to cross the ocean.
Dan O’Mahoney, Clandestine Channel Threat Commander, said: ‘Last month’s tragedy is a devastating reminder of the dangers of Channel crossings and we are determined to work with our European and international partners to target the ruthless organised criminal gangs behind them.
“Unbelievably these gangs keep on trading deadly drugs with even more crossings today. They shamelessly put lives in danger.
“People intending to travel should seek asylum in any country that they can reach, instead of crossing the Channel via a country within the EU.
‘The Government’s New Plan for Immigration will be firm on those coming here via illegal routes and fair for those using safe and legal routes. This will lower the attraction factors for the current asylum system and immigration system.
Priti Patel, who was also in crisis with France online, pledged to end ‘100%’ of migrants crossings.
The Home Office released a joint statement that also stated they discussed the growing migrant crisis within eastern Europe, which Britain claimed Russia and Belarus were engineering in order to weaken European unity.
Ms Patel and Mr Darmanin stated that the Home Secretary had spoken to Gerald Darmanin, her French counterpart, to talk about the Channel crossing problem and to determine the best operational solution.
The Home Secretary as well as the Interior Minister have agreed to intensify operational cooperation. To stop dangerous crossings, more must be done. The two sides agreed to speed up the fulfillment of their commitments in the July 2021 joint agreement to stop dangerous crossings.