Border Crisis Escalates as Thousands of Migrants Arrive in Just 10 Days
Sir Keir Starmer’s border security policy is under fire as the number of migrants arriving by small boats continues to surge, with nearly 2,300 people crossing the Channel in just the last 10 days. The crisis is deepening, and pressure is mounting on the Prime Minister to take tougher action.
On Monday, a small boat arrived in UK waters around 1 am, with those onboard taken to the Border Force processing centre in Dover Harbour. Another vessel was intercepted just before 5 am, followed by a third boat reaching British waters by 8.30 am, reported GB News.
By mid-morning, at least 150 migrants had arrived in Dover, pushing the total number of crossings since March 1 to nearly 2,300. That figure is staggering—more than half of all crossings so far this year. It also represents a 20% increase compared to the same period last year and is the highest number recorded at this point since the small boat crisis began in 2016.
With numbers spiralling, many are calling for Starmer to introduce a deterrent scheme similar to Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda policy, which was scrapped on Starmer’s first day in office. Branding it a “gimmick”, the Prime Minister instead introduced the Border Security Command, a new force backed by millions in extra funding. But eight months on, the crossings are only getting worse. If the current rate continues, last year’s total of over 36,800 migrants could be surpassed.
Among those who recently arrived is a young Palestinian man with alleged extremist links. The Campaign Against Antisemitism has uncovered evidence that Abu Wadei had previously posted anti-Israel and anti-Jewish hate messages on social media.
The Home Office has not confirmed whether Wadei was detained upon arrival, but on Sunday, a video surfaced appearing to show him live-streaming from his hotel room in the UK. This has sparked fresh concerns over the government’s handling of security risks at the border.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has called for urgent action to remove Wadei from the UK. The Home Office responded by stating they do not comment on individual cases but assured the public that “all steps necessary” are taken to protect national security.
They also reiterated the government’s commitment to ending small boat crossings and restoring order to the asylum system. However, with numbers continuing to soar and concerns over security growing, many are questioning whether Starmer’s approach is working—or if a more hardline solution is needed.