SOME 1,194 migrants crossed the English Channel into the United Kingdom in small boats on Saturday, marking the highest number of arrivals in a single day this year, according to official figures compiled .
The UK Home Office reported that 1,194 people made the dangerous journey, pushing the total number of crossings in 2025 to 14,808 — the highest figure for the first five months of any year since records began in 2018.
French coastal authorities also confirmed they rescued nearly 200 people from the Channel between Friday night and Saturday evening, highlighting the ongoing risks involved in such crossings.
In one incident, a boat carrying 61 individuals suffered engine failure, while another group of nine called for assistance.
The increase in crossings comes despite joint efforts between British and French authorities to curb the movement of small boats.
UK Defence Secretary John Healey described the scenes as “Pretty shocking,” in an interview with Sky News on Sunday.
“We saw the smugglers launching elsewhere and coming around like a taxi to pick them up,” he said, adding that “Britain’s lost control of its borders.”.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces mounting pressure over the issue, particularly from right-wing parties and voters demanding tougher immigration controls.
“We all want to end dangerous small boat crossings, which threaten lives and undermine our border security,” the Home Office said in a statement on the latest arrivals.
Starmer’s government recently introduced a series of new policies, including extending the waiting period for migrants to qualify for settlement and granting authorities additional powers to deport foreign nationals convicted of crimes.
A broader legislative effort, the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, is currently under parliamentary review.
Despite these measures, Saturday’s arrivals fell just short of the all-time daily record of 1,300 crossings set in September 2022.
So far this year, 15 people have died attempting to make the journey across one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.
